A Masterton businessman, whose home was badly damaged when a stolen car careered off the road and smashed into it in the dead of night, wants greater protection put in place for the residents of Judds Road.
Francis Lau said he has been doing some detective work in his neighbourhood since
the dramatic events of Tuesday morning and has learned of four instances over the years of property being damaged by out-of-control vehicles in Judds Road.
"I think it's time some protection barriers were put up."
Mr Lau said not all the incidents he was told about related to the area around his home which is close to the corner with High Street on the left-hand side of the road.
But he said it seemed logical
that both sides of the road
should have some type of strong protective barrier to guard against vehicles travelling too fast round the sweeping corner into Judds Road.
A concrete kerbed garden plot just outside Mr Lau's home failed to slow the progress of the stolen Saab that continued through a concrete block fence to hit the house about 2am on Tuesday. The badly-damaged house is now being assessed by insurers to determine what will have to be done to fix it.
Masterton Mayor Garry Daniell said the highway was not under
the jurisdiction of Masterton District Council and issues relating to it should be taken up with the New Zealand Land Transport Agency. Mr Daniell said he was willing to talk with Mr Lau and advise him of the correct procedure to go through to get matters under way.
