VIDEO Residents in a busy road in Ipswich have today called for cars to slow down and let them out of their driveways.A number of people living in Wherstead Road claim they are fed up with waiting up to 15 minutes to back out of their driveway and have suggested creating a crossing to help slow motorists down.

RESIDENTS in a busy road in Ipswich have today called for cars to slow down and let them out of their driveways.

A number of people living in Wherstead Road claim they are fed up with waiting up to 15 minutes to back out of their driveway and have suggested creating a crossing to help slow motorists down.

Their pleas come after a crash yesterday in which a woman had to be cut free from her car following a collision with another vehicle.

The accident, which happened at about 6.50am, closed a major artery into the town centre for nearly an hour.

The woman was taken to hospital with head and neck injuries though they are not believed to be serious.

Robert and Shirley Ellis have lived in the street for 35 years and say that it can take 15 minutes to get out in the morning because the traffic is so bad.

Mrs Ellis, 54, said: “This road is a nightmare. It is noisy and it can take ages to get out of the driveway.

“I know people on Foxhall Road have the same problem as us. It must also be bad for people living in Norwich Road and Bramford Road.

“When the Orwell Bridge was built about 20 years ago, it improved traffic a bit but it is nearly getting as bad again.

“We are a four-car house so parking is a problem. It has got to the point where we have to plan where we are going to park the cars.”

Mr Ellis, 55, added: “We can only put one car in the drive way and the rest are parked elsewhere. There is a shortage of parking spaces around here and it will get even worse when they build the new flats across the road.”

Richard Mason, 72, said: “They do not stop for you when you are trying to drive out. It can take 10 or 15 minutes. People are supposed to be going 30mph down here but it is more like 40mph.”

Charles Cooper, 60, said: “We need a crossing along here because at least that would slow people down. There are a lot of elderly people living along here and it takes them a long time to cross the road. The new development is only going to make it worse.”

One resident, who did not want to be named, added: “I have got two teenage daughters and I always worry when I hear an ambulance because this road is so dangerous.

“No one stops to let you out. I get the bus and crossing the road to get to the bus stop can take about 10 minutes.”

Is fast moving traffic a problem where you are? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk