THE introduction of expensive “traffic calming” measures in a speeding hotspot have made the situation much worse, angry families say.

Cooper Avenue in Walthamstow and surrounding roads have been narrowed in an attempt to solve the problem of reckless drivers putting lives in danger.

But people living in the street are now demanding that road is returned to its original lay out because buses are mounting the pavement to get through and there is greater risk from drivers who continue to speed.

They have organised a petition with 150 signatures calling for the council to take action.

Denise Walker, 51, of Cooper Avenue in Walthamstow, raised concerns about the road to Waltham Forest Council in 2008 but says its response is badly flawed.

She said: “I did ask if the council could deal with this dangerous bend.

“But now if the bus comes down here there’s no room.

“You are almost being run off the road and sometimes you have to come up onto the pavement.”

Driving instructor Adrian Anderson, 45, of Cooper Avenue, insisted that if he had known the council’s intentions, he would have complained much earlier.

He said: “Their idea of calming the traffic is to extend the pavement out.

“Now, what I proposed was if we are to have these road safety measures, let’s have a 20mph speed limit.

“They’re crushing the roads to a point where by the current 30mph speed limit is running the risk of a serious accident.

“In the final designs, there was no scale so we did not know how narrow the road was going to become.

“We do not want the buses to be stopped. We just think money could have been spent better.”

London tube driver Anton Lyons, 57, of nearby Lawrence Avenue, which is also affected, felt the introduction of speed bumps would been cheaper and much safer.

He said: “There was an accident last Sunday (May 23) where a car slammed it’s breaks on at one of the corners and the car behind went up the back of them.

“That was the first accident we’ve had in five years.

“This happened within three weeks of construction. It was an accident waiting to happen.”

The Guardian is awaiting a response from the council.