RESIDENTS in a Halesowen street feel "abandoned" and "living in fear", claiming a one-way system is causing speeding traffic and regular smashes.

People living in Church Street say the problem is made worse by a "dangerous" junction with Nimmings Road and they are calling for double yellow lines to stop traffic having to pull out around parked vehicles.

They also want measures to slow traffic down.

Halesowen North Councillor Karen Shakespeare met Dudley traffic officers at the spot on Wednesday (March 16) but she said that, although they saw first-hand the issues, they held out little hope of any action for at least a year.

Councillor Shakespeare said: "Green Lane, which is the next road, has had thousands spent on measures to improve safety, including bollards and signage.

"But people in Church Street feel they have been abandoned following the installation of the one way system, which was put in place a few years ago.

"Church Street has been left suffering with speeding motorists and several cars being smashed in the one-way section of the road and people are fearing for their safety when getting in and out of their cars."

She added that she had been approached by many people in the last year asking for double yellow lines at the "dangerous" Church Street junction with Nimmings Road.

She had contacted the council several times but had to wait until the end of 2015 for a decision to be made - only to be told that the junction scored 22 points on its rating system for such work.

"And although this would have been sufficient last year they were only considering yellow line schemes that scored 25 points plus for the 2016/17 programme," said the councillor.

"Now I am told we will be put on a list for 2017-18, with a decision to be made by the end of this year - but there is no guarantee."

"This is a joke - not only having to wait so long for a decision to be made but also that they have now moved the goal posts, leaving a dangerous junction for residents and motorists.

"Dudley Council have done nothing to make it safe."

Resident Jennifer Lester said: " There have been over half a dozen accidents in the one-way section over the past 12 months with motorists whizzing round the bend in Church Street and up the one-way section of road without regard for people's safety - old and young - getting in and out of their cars and properties.

"Enough is enough. There is no deterrent apart from a dotted line to indicate that they are approaching the one-way section and something needs to be put there, like Green Lane, to make it safe."

Councillor Shakespeare, who says the residents "live in fear on a daily basis", added that she would not give up and will keep up the pressure on the council for action.