A COUNCILLOR has called for safety improvements to a dangerous road following a recent crash.

The calls come after a car reportedly clipped a tree and careered through a front garden fence in Whitehouse Road, Eastwood, at about 9.50pm on Friday, January 21.

An 18 year-old man from Southend was arrested on suspicion of drug driving, careless driving, and driving without insurance.

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He has since been released under investigation.

Councillor Paul Collins says the occupants if the vehicle were “fortunate to escape from harm” after “clipping a tree and narrowly missing a streetlight” before crashing “into a property fence and garden nearby”.

Mr Collins says residents have asked him to campaign for ways to improve safety on the road.

“The road remains dangerous to the unwary,” he said.

"Councillors in Eastwood and St. Laurence have again asked the council through the Highways Inspectors to intervene and find ways of controlling the speed and reducing the danger of this road.”

Harriet Durant, who lives on Whitehouse Road, said: “We often have problems with collisions, crashes and speeding on this road.

“Despite the lanes being quite narrow, cars have been known to go down it very fast.

“It gets especially bad at night for some reason. It seems people think they can get away with driving like madmen at night.”

An Essex Police spokesman said: “A vehicle was in collision with a building in Whitehouse Road at around 9.50pm on Friday.

“If you have any information, CCTV, dash cam or other footage in relation to this incident, then please get in contact with us.

“Please quote incident 1285 of 21 January.

“You can let us know by submitting a report on our website or by using our online Live Chat service available Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) between 10am-9pm.

“Visit www.essex.police.uk/digital101 to find out more about our website reporting services.

“Alternatively you can call us on 101.

“In an emergency always call 999.

I”f you would like to make an anonymous report you can contact independent charity @Crimestoppers, by visiting their website or by calling 0800 555 111.”