Frustrated residents are lamenting a new one-way system after a car came off the road and crashed through a wall.

The wall and metal railings outside homes in Wantz Road, Maldon, were destroyed after a vehicle ploughed into them.

It came after the new road system was introduced last month.

The move was made by Essex County Council to allow residents to use new permit holder parking spaces on one side of the road.

However, residents have expressed concern over the changes.

One homeowner, who asked not to be named, said: “A car failed to negotiate the gap between parked cars and ended up in the front gardens, destroying garden walls and damaging railings.

“It finally came to rest very close to the properties involved, and without the obstacles in its path could have crashed into the houses themselves.”

She said she believed the one-way system has encouraged people to drive at “excessive speeds, presenting a hazard to parked vehicles, pedestrians on narrow parts of the footway and causing damage to property”.

She said: “All road markings referring to parking, except double yellow lines at junctions have been removed.

“There are no replacement lines to indicate suitable parking locations or ‘bays’.

“Therefore the residents are at liberty to park where they wish.

“Unfortunately a ‘chicane’ effect has been created as parking preference changes from one side of the road to the other.

“This would not be a problem if drivers maintained a low speed whilst negotiating the gaps.”

An Essex Highways spokesman said: “As previously stated, the Road Safety Team are working on a post-construction audit, and that will inform any further actions.

“It might be worth noting that the scheme did have objections, although the vast majority of traffic was in the direction of the current one-way before the scheme was introduced.

“There is now more parking available during weekdays and Saturdays than previously, including visitor permits being available. Spaces for Blue Badge holders are sometimes available, but only to residents at that address.”