Bird box 'speed camera' near Gosfield put up to deter speeders

Nick Porter, who lives in the A1017 between High Garrett and Gosfield, put up the fake camera in an effort to deter motorists from driving too fast down the road.

Despite the 60mph limit, which reduces to 40mph when entering either the hamlet or village, he said traffic has been getting “faster and faster over the years”, with speeds hitting as fast as 90mph.

Nick said: “There are 15 children along this road in ten houses.

“A deer was hit a couple of months ago, cars getting written off.

Deterrent - the bird box 'speed camera' put up by Nick (Image: Public)
“We are third generation in this house, so have seen the worst of it with fatal accidents.

“Our children are old enough to get the school bus but the road is too dangerous to stand on.

“We just feel really unsafe.

“If speed checks are done it will be clear to see."

Nick built the birdbox after seeing it elsewhere and says he has noticed some differences.

Concerned - Nick Porter (Image: Public)

He said: “I have seen it before and know other places that have them so I thought why not try something different.

“I literally just bought a bird box, got a bit of scaffold pole and put it on the side.

“It has been up for a little while now and there has been a visible notice in a difference in speed the other way.”

A spokesman for Essex Highways said: "Following fatal collisions on the road network, the Road Safety Engineering team conducts full investigations to find any highway-related factors that may have contributed. This includes reviewing the past ten years of collision data in the area.

"If clear patterns or trends are found, and remedial highways measures can help prevent them, they will be put to the Local Highways Panel for funding.

“Safety concerns will also be raised with the local Essex County Councillor who can raise them with the Local Highways Panel.”