Please demolish our homes

This was the plea by residents living in Orchard Road, Beeston during August 1988. Fronting onto the busy A1, villager George Comlidge had had an incredible 25 vehicles crashing into his garden over the previous 12 years, four of which had hit his house.

By The Newsroom

Published 30th Aug 2013, 11:54 BST

“It’s nerve-wracking and it’s getting worse by the day” he said at the time.

The most recent crash had seen a Ford Escort collide with a Sierra, which then ploughed across land behind the home of Frances Charter, also of Orchard Road. Over the same 12 years the Charters had seen nine cars narrowly miss their home.

“I really feel in danger all the time. But it’s night time that’s the worst” Frances said, adding that they could not move out as no one wanted to live there.

At the time of the report, Sandy town and district councillor Arthur Sherwood-King, and Mid Beds director of community services Peter Mears were investigating the residents’ plight.

Beeston