FRUSTRATED residents have reported constant beeping, speeding, collisions and several near misses at a "dangerous" roundabout in Billericay.
The mini roundabout was put in place four years ago at the junction of Meadow Rise and Greens Farm Lane – yet those who live nearby say it has done absolutely nothing to improve road safety.
Several residents claim that the roundabout is not respected by drivers, who fail to give way.
They also say signage on the approach to the roundabout is facing the wrong way.
Terry McLaughlin lives with his wife Eileen on Meadow Rise right next to the roundabout.
They have lived there since 1972.
"People don't slow down at the roundabout unless they are forced to stop," Mr McLaughlin said.
"I was dead against the roundabout when they started to put it in.
"They have made it worse and should make it back into a junction with a stop sign."
Mrs McLaughlin added: "We have had some near misses and heard an accident.
"All you can hear is beep, beep, beep, where one car won't give way to another.
"We recently heard an accident from inside our house – one car spun round into another."
Barbara Bradley and her husband Harvey have lived on Meadow Rise for 29 years.
Mrs Bradley, 68, said: "It would be fine if people treated it as a roundabout but they still treat it like it's a T-junction.
"If you come out from Greens Farm Lane you cannot see what's coming.
"Traffic comes down too fast and it doesn't matter how much you tell them to slow down.
"The junction has never been ideal – it's not easy.
"It would work far better if we could install a one way system."
David Leonard, 59, of Outwood Common Road, Billericay is also concerned about the road. He said: "If you come from the Tesco side of the roundabout on Meadow Rise you have a blind spot with the fence to the right on Greens Farm Lane.
"People don't like stopping their cars.
"When I just crossed the road on foot at the start it was clear but a car came round the corner so fast I had to stop.
"People don't drive to the conditions but because of the blind spots you've got to slow down to look."
