A FRUSTRATED couple who have seen their wall demolished four times have called on drivers to take more care when passing their home after a neighbour almost lost his foot in a crash.

Bill Braithwaite, 76, and his wife Sue, 85, say people often park dangerously on double yellow lines and a dropped kerb near their home in Meyrick Crescent, Colchester.

The narrow one-way road bears the brunt of drivers cutting through from Berechurch Road to Mersea Road.

In December, a pedestrian suffered a serious leg injury in a crash and resident Mr Braithwaite said he was lucky not to lose his foot.

“I was in here and thought what are all those blue lights about. I thought maybe someone had a heart attack at the pub opposite.”

He said poor parking added to the problem.

He said: “We just want people to park where it is legal.

“I never hear anything back from the authorities about it.

“I’m paying my council tax but not getting the service.

“We’ve been saying for a long time it won’t be long before someone gets hit and this time he was the unlucky one.”

Mr Braithwaite, who has lived in the road for almost 50 years, said the wall outside his home used to be 5ft high, but has been dramatically reduced in size after constant rebuilding work.

Following the last demolition of the wall in a crash in 2018, the couple shelled out £200 for fresh building materials.

Thankfully their insurance policy covered the rest.

“The parking can leave us a little bit blind coming out our driveway and people tend to come round the corner like a bat out of hell.

“That wall used to be 5ft, now it is a couple of feet tall.

“It has always been a bit of a menace, especially at the times when it is busy with the school runs and things like that.

“Then you have ladies with pushchairs who have been unable to get up the kerb or have to walk in the road.

“I understand it can be difficult with parking here, but that’s what the double yellow lines are here for.”

A spokesman for the North Essex Parking Partnership said: “We undertake enforcement of parking and waiting restrictions across north Essex to help ensure safe traffic flow, reduce congestion and make streets safer for all.

“We carry out regular patrols, with resources allocated to reflect the restrictions in place and support priorities.”