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Homeowner calls for safety improvements at junction near Mersham as car smashes into house

05:00, 29 June 2024

A worried homeowner fears someone could be killed after a car ploughed into her property for the second time in less than six months.

Grandmother-of-three Jenny Garrard was upstairs in her four-bed house near Mersham, Ashford, on Wednesday afternoon when she heard an "explosion".

The 59-year-old rushed downstairs to find the driver of a red Toyota Yaris had smashed through the front wall of her home, sending debris across the living room.

Mrs Garrard says Kent County Council (KCC) must now install road signs at the junction of Chequer Tree Farm Road and Colliers Hill, where her unlisted property sits.

It comes after another driver crashed through her garden fence in January, leaving the mother-of-three fearing it is only a matter of time before another incident occurs.

"I heard what sounded like an explosion,” Mrs Garrard said.

“I ran downstairs to find part of a car in my sitting room and then outside to help the driver who was already getting out of the car.

Jenny Garrard inside her ruined living room; she is calling for safety improvements to the junction opposite her house
Jenny Garrard inside her ruined living room; she is calling for safety improvements to the junction opposite her house
The driver was taken to hospital following the incident
The driver was taken to hospital following the incident
The house is close to Mersham at the junction of Chequer Tree Farm Road and Colliers Hill. Picture: KMG
The house is close to Mersham at the junction of Chequer Tree Farm Road and Colliers Hill. Picture: KMG

“We phoned the ambulance and police who were here really quickly. There could have been fatalities.”

Mrs Garrard, who has lived in the property for six years, says she has previously raised her concerns over the junction with local councillors.

"There is no stop sign, there is no give way sign, and I need to be safe in my own property," Mrs Garrard said.

“I have been told before that there is not enough money to pay for the signage or painting the road.

"But it’s national speed limit down here and although they have painted ‘slow’ on the road nearby, people go at 60mph around these blind bends."

The junction currently has no signs or road markings to alert drivers
The junction currently has no signs or road markings to alert drivers
The red Toyota Yaris left a gaping hole in the front of the property
The red Toyota Yaris left a gaping hole in the front of the property
The crash happened on Wednesday and sent debris flying across the living room
The crash happened on Wednesday and sent debris flying across the living room

The driver of the Toyota was taken to the William Harvey Hospital for treatment following the incident at 5pm on Wednesday.

Mrs Garrard's home was boarded up overnight, but she says the crash has "compromised the whole property".

"The house has moved so it will be major work to get it back to how it was prior to 5pm on Wednesday afternoon," she said.

“Luckily there weren’t any fatalities, but the next time there might and we don’t want to get to the stage where this could happen.

"I feel vulnerable - it could have happened at any time. The car just hadn’t stopped at the junction opposite my house.

The Toyota Yaris hit the property on Wednesday afternoon
The Toyota Yaris hit the property on Wednesday afternoon
Debris in the living room of the home near Mersham
Debris in the living room of the home near Mersham

“It’s very simple to sort out: they need to paint a thick white line on the road and install a sign saying ‘stop’. They also need to change the speed limit.”

In a statement, a KCC spokeswoman said it is waiting to receive details from police about the incident.

“In the event of serious and fatal road crashes, police will put together a report on the details of the incident and carry out investigations to understand possible causes,” she said.

“The report and results of their investigations are then shared with KCC so that we have complete details of the incident.

The front of her property was boarded up overnight following the crash
The front of her property was boarded up overnight following the crash

“We will subsequently undertake further site investigations to establish if there are any highway safety concerns that need to be addressed.

“We have not yet received a report from the police for this incident.”

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