Calls for barriers to stop cars crashing into home

Sharon Neall said her property in Shefford in Bedfordshire had been struck twice in recent years

A woman is calling on a local council to install safety barriers outside her home to prevent drivers from crashing into it.

Sharon Neall said her property in Shefford, Bedfordshire, had been hit twice in three years, and recently a van came close to colliding with her home and a group of schoolchildren.

Mrs Neall said the stress and inconvenience was enormous and her home "had become a place of anxiety". She has started a petition to call on the council to introduce safety measures.

A spokesperson for Central Bedfordshire Council said: "Once the petition has closed it will be referred to our Traffic Management Meeting where it will be considered and responded to."

Sharon Neall said her home in Shefford had become a place of anxiety for her

Mrs Neall, whose home is part of a row of cottages, said she had "experienced first-hand the devastation and distress" caused by the collisions.

"Each incident not only impacted my life, but highlighted the urgent need for preventative measures."

She said in March 2022 an ambulance slammed into her home after its brakes failed, but at the time "never imagined it could happen again".

However, in February 2025 it did, when an elderly driver crashed into the property, leaving it structurally damaged and uninhabitable.

Her petition calling for safety measures has so far been signed by more than 700 people.

Mrs Neall said: "I would be happy with railings as they are more space-saving compared to bollards and maybe raise the roundabout slightly to make drivers slow down more.

"Given the proximity of a public footpath that is frequently used by children and families, it is not just about my family's safety but preventing potential harm to others."

MP Alistair Strathern said that Central Bedfordshire Council had so far refused calls for simple protective measures to the property

The Labour MP for Hitchin, Alistair Strathern, has written to Central Bedfordshire Council on her behalf, but Strathern claimed the authority had so far "refused calls for simple protective measures" such as the installation of bollards outside the property.

Strathern said "It goes without saying that no family should have to live with the fear that a car might crash into their home."

He urged the authority "to look again at this decision" and vowed to "keep working alongside residents to push for common-sense safety measures".

He added that "even modest interventions like bollards could make a real difference in preventing accidents and protecting Sharon's home".

The council spokesperson said they appreciated "the concerns raised through the petition organisers".