'WE feel one of these days they're going to hit somebody.' 

Those were the words of Roosecote resident Lorna Salt, who lives on Rampside Road, which becomes the Coast Road (A5087) at Rampside.

Residents have complained to local councillors and the police about anti-social driving in the area, with people speeding and using loud exhausts as they drive around estates often in the middle of the night. 

Mrs Salt said: "We're on the main road as you go out towards the Coast Road and it seems as though when they are going to the Coast Road they are going up to a least 50 mph." The speed limit is 30 in Roosecote and then only increases to 40 when leaving the residential area. 

"There's a lot of people walking dogs and there's children coming home from school. They don't care that they are driving beyond the speed limit beyond the roundabout.

"I've witnessed somebody doing a back wheelie on their motorbike. It's bad. You feel one of these days they are going to hit somebody. We have had two animals hit on this road. It's frightening to think of children in the summertime." 

Barrow town councillor Paul Griffiths said that the issue is one of the most raised subjects since he took on the role in April: "It's been something that's been on the agenda for a few months. This has been one of the hot topics, it manifests itself at every meeting.

"The Coast Road has been a particular hotspot. There have been some quite serious accidents closing the road for five, six, seven hours." 

Cllr Griffiths shared one story he was told by a woman who went out walking with her family. They were nearly hit by a speeding car on Rampside Road that lost control and spun 180-360 degrees. 

"It brings home that near misses are something we can put behind us but anything other than a near miss we remember for quite a long time," he said. "It would be a real catastrophe."

Cllr Griffiths praised the engagement received from the neighbourhood police officer PC Martin Hayes. He said that they were going to do a joint meeting, but ironically PC Hayes could not attend as he was pulled out by his supervisor to go to a road incident in the area. 

On Tuesday, October 24, a spokesperson from Cumbria Police said: "As a continuation of the ongoing operation targeting anti-social driving raised from the residents of Roosecote and Rampside, Barrow Neighbourhood Policing Team have this evening issued a number of fixed penalty tickets for driving offences in the area of the coast road." 

Community Beat Officers from Walney and Roosecote also joined together the day after to tackle anti-social driving throughout Barrow.

Two people were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a controlled drug after being stopped by the team. The driver of the vehicle was also arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, and he has been bailed for further investigation.