A WOMAN whose home was damaged by a van in the summer said the incident has left her ‘on tenterhooks’ and is worried a pedestrian will come to harm on the stretch of road she lives on, writes Amy Dennis.

Kath Brabbins’ home on Bridge Street in Stratton was hit by a van on June 14, taking out Delabole slate above the bay window and front door.

She said: “When this van hit, I was in the back of the house. I had been expecting something to happen for ages. I thought I was going to be going out there giving CPR or picking up body parts — it was that loud.”

Ms Brabbins opened her door and stepped out on rubble.

“We’re getting traffic that is far too heavy through what is a village road. There was a time I could walk out my front door in relative safety and cross the road. You are taking your life in your hands now. Traffic whips round so quickly. We are talking trucks with eight axles.”

She said there has been ‘construction traffic and all sorts coming through’, owing to the recent retail and Binhamy developments in Bude.

She said she spoke to highways, and was told barriers could not be put in place as it was ‘too narrow’, and speed humps could not be installed as emergency vehicles use the road on a regular basis.

She got in touch with her Cornwall Councillor, Liberal Democrat Paula Dolphin, adding: “Her very words to me were ‘it’s only going to get worse’. Is it going to take a child being sucked up a wheel arch and being killed before anything’s done about it?

“I’m on tenterhooks all the time. The anxiety is dreadful.”

Ms Brabbins’ home has been hit twice by traffic in the last year, and her neighbours have also been affected. One neighbour had her porch nudged, and the vehicle did not stop to let them know. They took the porch down, worried it could be hit again. Ms Brabbins said the latest damage to her own property is ‘not going to get repaired any time soon’.

She added: “Our properties are being devalued. It should have a knock-on effect on our council tax. If we withhold payment, we are the ones that are going to get prosecuted.”

Ms Brabbins is worried her property and neighbouring homes could be at risk of further damage early next year, when Devon County Council’s proposed highway structural maintenance scheme on the A39 from Bucks Cross to Downland Cross is due to start.

Construction work is set to be carried out from February 19 to March 6 under 24/7 road closure, and the diversion route will be signed via A39 Bideford, A386 Landcross, Holsworthy, A3072 Stratton, and A39.

Cllr Paula Dolphin said: “A highways officer went to visit her, to listen to her concerns and explain the situation. I do understand and appreciate her issues with regards to the increase of traffic in Stratton but that is due to the natural expected growth in population in the area, which will only get worse.

“The only real solution would be to have a bypass which is economically inviable. I am always minded of being honest and not to create any false illusion when talking to my electors. If in the future a viable solution is found, I will be happy to support it.”

She added a highways officer said: “The bridge in question is a reinforced concrete slab construction and is designed to take 40 tonnes in weight, as this is the main arterial route for HGVs to Holsworthy it wouldn’t be traffic calming or restricted in any way until a suitable alternative route was established.

“With regards to a by-pass, this location is within an identified area strategy for which continued efforts are made to secure funding from Central Government or other sources. This location will be retained for future reference in the development of any related work programmes.

“Unfortunately this is a common problem and very similar to the issues being experienced in Newport at Launceston, however, at this location there are 15,600 daily vehicles movements compared with 6,500 vehicle movements in Stratton.”A spokesperson for Cornwall Council added: "A highways officer has visited the resident to listen to her concerns and explain the situation with the A3072."While we appreciate the resident's concerns, the A3072 is part of Cornwall's strategic road network and a strategic freight route, which means there is no weight restriction at Bridge Street and it will be used by larger vehicles. There are no known issues with speeding and therefore there are no plans for traffic calming on Bridge Street."Any highways problems can be reported via the Council's website at www.cornwall.gov.uk/reportroad or by ringing 0300 1234 222."

Staff from MP Scott Mann’s office have visited Ms Brabbins, listened to her concerns and said they are working with her to look at what the ‘achievable solutions’ might be for the stretch of road.

A spokesperson said: “There’s no doubt there is an issue there.”