THE size of speed bumps in a busy road are unlikely to be reduced any time soon.

Residents in Chelmsford Road, South Woodford, urged the council to reduce the size of speed bumps in their road, claiming heavy goods vehicles driving over them was causing damage to their homes.

But the the council has said it would cost £1,400 for the work and it is not something that can be funded.

Last month residents told the council that vibrations from large vehicles going over the speed bumps was causing damage to the structure of their properties.

The road is regularly used as a cut-through between the High Road and Woodford New Road.

Frank Cruder, Chelmsford Road resident and Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator, is one of the residents whose home suffes because of the traffic.

He said: "About every 15 months I have to have ridge tiles on my roof re-cemented because HGVs go over the humps and cause the cement to come out.

"Other residents have had trouble with windows and brickwork."

Mr Cruder asked the council's Area Two committee if speed bumps on a section of the road could be reduced in height as residents believe it would help solve the problem.

But at an Area Two meeting last night Cliff Woolnoth, council officer, said: "The cost would be £1,400, it would not be a high priority and I don't have the money to carry out the work."

Hugh Cleaver, Church End councillor, said rather than just reducing the size of the humps in one section of the road it might be worth carrying out a consultation to see whether the entire road is affected.

He said if the whole road is affected it might be something that could be paid for through ward funds and the ward currently has £10,696 in its budget.