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Speed bumps on Scartho road are damaging cars, say residents

By Grimsby Telegraph  |  Posted: December 08, 2012

ANGRY: Local residents who are unhappy with the speed bumps in Southfield Road, Scartho,  with ward councillor Ron Shepherd, crouching. Pictured are, from left, Doug Robinson, Doug Tamtlin and Mick Parrish.


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MOTORISTS claim controversial speed bumps are causing severe damage to their cars.

Those in Southfield Avenue, Scartho, and surrounding streets talk of expensive repair bills – and one driver claims he had to replace all four suspension springs in just a year.

The speed bumps were put in by North East Lincolnshire Council in 2001 to stop the road being used as a rat-run between Louth Road and Waltham Road.

Speed limits were also reduced to 20mph and road-narrowing gates used.

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But while initially the speed restrictions were welcomed by residents, upon completion in 2001, they then noticed damage to cars' suspension.

Council figures also show that between 2005 and 2011, more than £3,550 has been spent repairing and replacing damaged speed bumps.

As reported, a petition signed by more than 50 residents, calling for the removal of the speed bumps, will be presented to the council's portfolio holder for environment Peter Wheatley at a meeting at Grimsby Town Hall, on Tuesday.

Eastfield Avenue resident Doug Tamtlin thinks the speed bumps are too severe.

He said: "We are not against having the speed bumps and the restrictions. They are needed.

"But these are too severe. You're supposed to be able to drive over them at 20mph, but if you do you will break your car.

"These bumps are unique, there is nothing else like them in Grimsby.

"I have been told by a council worker that to remove the bumps would cost £10,000 for each one."

Doug also claims there are no warning signs for either the speed restrictions or the speed bumps.

He said: "You see a 20mph sign at the end of the street but there are no other signs, so people forget that's the speed limit.

"There are no warning signs for the bumps either. The cost of repairing the bumps must be astronomical. I have never known speed bumps needing as much fixing as these."

Fellow resident Doug Robinson claims the bumps are too high.

He said: "The maximum height for a speed bump is 75mm above the road surface and they are clearly higher.

"When they were originally planning where to place the bumps they wanted to put one right outside my house.

"The bump would have stopped me being able to take my caravan off my drive. When I started to fight against the placement, a lot of residents came forward to say they hadn't received any information on the speed reduction proposals."

Ward councillor for Scartho, Ron Shephard, said: "The bumps are constantly being broken and repaired. The approach is too high and this is causing cars to bottom out.

"I think as well that, towing hitches on caravans and trailers are hitting the bumps, which is breaking the bricks.

"I would like to see something done about them. If not removed, then have them altered."

However, not all residents are behind the campaign.

In a letter to the Grimsby Telegraph, Sid of Scartho said: "I have not been approached for a view on this matter and, being a resident, I think I should have been.

"Before their introduction, cars speeding down Southfield Road had to brake dramatically if unseen traffic was approaching from the other direction."

A spokesman for the council said: "There are currently no plans to remove or alter the speed calming measures."

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  • lildog  |  December 29 2012, 8:06AM

    As I understand things, original plans for the humps were protested against vociferously and at least one of the humps was moved simply because some person in Eastfield didn't want it outside of his home. If the protestors want them altered, let them pay for the work out of their own pockets, instead of everyone elses. Those humps are still needed, due to the indifference to the 20mph speed limits. Remove or lower the humps, all you will succeed in is to raise the speeds of vehicles driven in the area. Instead of moaning, take your foot of the accelerator. If you take a look around the area bounded by the 20mph signs, you will also find cars parked without any concern for the inherent dangers caused. Some of the parking because people wont walk any further than from the car straight in to their property. And talking about parking on the road, how many declarations have there been made to insurers, stating, the insured vehicle is parked off-road. Just for the benefit of a small reduction in costs.

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  • fasteddie59  |  December 26 2012, 8:09PM

    Sid of Scartho, ask yourself this question: In the last 5 years of Conservative representation in Scartho we have approached both Cllrs Hornby and Colebrook with little or no response.Cllr Colebrook quoted 10k for each hump to be removed. We do not want them removed we want them reduced in severity and clearly marked on the road surface as with other speed reducing ramps in this Borough. Why are these experimental speed reducing humps not used anywhere else in the Borough and why are they in Eastfield Avenue? I am glad someone has at last raised this issue rather than being fobbed off as in the past! Easfield resident.

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  • lildog  |  December 17 2012, 10:17PM

    The signs for the limit are set at the entrance of the area affected, so why do the y need reminders? Or, maybe it is that many drivers have short memories, they pass a 20mph sign and immediately accelerate. Possibly, it is that they are numerically dyslexic! I do live in the area concerned, and if you heard some of the noises emanating from vehicles striking these speed humps, you would be rather alarmed. As to hearing of any person damaging their suspension, then no one is shouting very loud. More like an embarrassed whisper. Also, who has got this petition out and travelled the area asking for signatories. Whoever it is, has not been to my door, and no person in the vicinity has spoken to me about it. I do drive, and I do live in the area under question. So, as 'thundercat76' suggests, stop the whingeing and drive with a bit of commonsense.

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  • SamScartho  |  December 14 2012, 11:31AM

    Im intrigued by the 'unlike's' ... why not elaborate on what you don't agree with? Speeding is a problem on this street which was used as a rat race before they were installed and the bumps are no different in height to many other streets in the area such as the new estate off Springfield Road for instance. I don't hear there being a petition from the people in that area?

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  • SamScartho  |  December 14 2012, 8:07AM

    well well well i see my post was removed and there was me thinking this is where people get to have their say ... I am a resident of Southfield and i want the bumps to stay .. before they were erected the residents were complaining that cars were travelling too fast and i had to walk my kids across the road to visit their friends (because we are on the corner that noone slows down for) I have had to pick up many moped riders because they've skidded on the black ice after again not slowing down for the corner and my neighbour's have had many cars through their hedge! Its a load of rubbish that residents have had to have their cars repaired, this is only a minority of people and the remaining residents have had hassle free motoring for the last 11 years! As i commented before there are certain people who still enjoy catapulting their 4-wheel drive's over these bumps at over 20mph so i guess they're also fine with the bumps. The person doing the survey at my door didn't even live in the street, she lives outside a bus-stop on the main road ... no wonder she hasn't had a good nights sleep in the last 11 years .. its the buses not the bumps that are the problem there love.

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  • jack_knife  |  December 12 2012, 8:17PM

    Didn't Coun. Wheatley ADMIT on one of the TV news programmes yesterday ( I think it may have been Calendar) that these 'road bumps' WERE to high? So, I think the "Spokesman for the council" had better think again!

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  • patingy  |  December 12 2012, 4:53PM

    Note headline!!! no speed bumps on Scartho Road

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  • patingy  |  December 12 2012, 4:51PM

    Note the headline! there are no speed bumps on Scartho Road

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  • vikti  |  December 12 2012, 3:13PM

    Those speed bumps on Southfield Road have always been a hazard, badly built and far too high. Maybe a bit of American dream freeway hey Councillor Wheatley!

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  • 1812o  |  December 10 2012, 5:35PM

    Is this the way that UKIP go down on their knees for support? The Tories are crouching as well and this is what matters: Voting intentions: CON 33% LAB 42% LDEM 10% Petitions wont help these either they're DOOOOOOOOMED ;-) UKIP 9% Pathetic and the electorate have no time for beggars.

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