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Police to take 'positive action' to tackle rat run

Andrew Turner
BBC News, Norfolk
Reporting fromCaister-on-Sea
Andrew Turner/BBC A yellow sign says: "Not suitable for diversion traffic". It has been placed at the Norwich Road junction of Roman Way. It stands on a grass verge, with pavements visible either side of the road.Andrew Turner/BBC
Roman Way has been used as a shortcut by drivers trying to avoid delays at traffic lights in the village

Action will be taken to stop a residential street being used as a shortcut, police say.

People in Roman Way in Caister, Norfolk, have been complaining about drivers using their street as a rat run between Norwich Road and Ormesby Road during the closure of the A149 Caster bypass for roadworks.

Caister Parish Council held a meeting with its local Norfolk officer to discuss the problem.

Norfolk Police said: "Officers will be taking positive action in the coming weeks in relation to those using the road incorrectly."

Andrew Turner/BBC Debbie Allinson, has blonde hair. She is smiling and wearing a blue jacket, and a pink teeshirt. Her partner Kevin Harding is wearing sunglasses, a black teeshirt and a blue puffa jacket, which has an orange lining. They are standing by their car, in front of their house. Another car is parked in the backdrop to the right.Andrew Turner/BBC
Debbie Allinson and Kevin Harding said the road has become more dangerous since the Caister bypass closed for a new junction to be built

One driver told the BBC they welcomed the planned enforcement, but said the shortcut was useful if they needed to get somewhere and did not want to wait at the traffic lights.

Another admitted he used the road to avoid congestion, but, when told about possible enforcement, he said he would use the official diversion.

"I'm not paying their fines," he added,

Andy Gowen, 62, who lives near a sharp corner on the road, has security cameras which have captured some "concerning" near-miss incidents.

"This road is used by schoolchildren when they're going to the academy," he said.

"The number of times I've seen cars and trucks going up onto the pavement with near-misses, it's incredible. It leaves you cold-blooded.

"The biggest number of rat runs I got [in a day] was 581," said Mr Gowen, "and the day after, our local police constable took numbers and it dropped into the 300s. It made a huge difference.

"I wish it wasn't necessary, but ultimately I think [fixed penalty] tickets will be the way to go."

Andrew Turner/BBC Andy Gowan has long grey hair and a grey goatee beard and moustache. He is wearing a white long-sleeved T-shirt underneath a yellow T-shirt with a black ink line drawing of the sun with face within, and other figures depicted. He is standing on the side of his property, with Roman Way and houses in the distance visible beyond the roadway and pavement.Andrew Turner/BBC
Andy Gowan said he had CCTV cameras which, he claimed, recorded 581 vehicles using Roman Way on a single day

Debbie Allinson, 68, said: "It has been a problem. There's signs at the end saying access only for residents, so they're abusing it.

"We're worried somebody is going to get knocked over. We have got a lot of elderly people who go up and down on their little trolleys and there's children that go to school.

"It only takes someone to tear down here like they do and knock somebody over.

"I can understand that the road [bypass] is closed, but that doesn't excuse the fact they're coming through."

Her partner, Kevin Harding, 65, added: "They know they shouldn't be here.

"I sat here the other day and had to wait for eight cars before I could get out of the drive."

In a statement, Norfolk Police said: "The local beat manager has been working with the parish council after several concerns were raised by the local community about the use of Roman Way."

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