Cradley church having to foot the bill for cars crashing into old wall (From Halesowen News)

Cradley church having to foot the bill for cars crashing into old wall

1:00pm Sunday 14th March 2010

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EXCESS on a Cradley church’s insurance policy has rocketed from £100 to £1,000 after claims for damage following repeated crashes into a grade 2 listed wall by speeding motorists.

The wall surrounding the Park Lane Unitarian Chapel has been left partially demolished after the last accident a year ago because the church cannot afford the several thousand pounds repair bill.

Church treasurer Rhona Homer is urging Dudley Council to take action over speeding traffic and fears that someone could be killed.

“We’ve lost count how many times the wall has been knocked down - but we’ve had so many claims that our insurance premium has gone up and the excess has increased from £100 to £1,000 in the last few years,” said Rhona.

The motorist responsible for the last accident - just a week after it had been re-built - removed his smashed up vehicle and failed to report the accident, leaving the church with no-one to claim the cost of the repairs from.

“The wall acts as a buffer, but if a car lost control and went through the gap in the wall it could hit one of the large trees or gravestones and someone could be killed,” said Rhona.

She said traffic calming measures had failed to slow vehicles down, claiming some drivers were reaching speeds of 90mph in the straight road before reaching the church which is on a bend.

Rhona said motorists ignored the 30mph signs, that an anti-skid surface was inadequate and bollards erected on the pavement in front of the wall were neither strong enough nor in the right place.

“We asked the council to put up barriers but were told they would be dangerous in themselves and could kill someone if they hit them,” she said.

Rhona is calling on the council and emergency services to liaise in a bid to find a solution to the problem.

A Dudley Council spokesman said: “We will review the situation in the light of local concerns.”

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