Residents are calling for more “robust” signs on a ‘no through road’ in Marlow amid fears that a reversing car could hit a pedestrian.

Marlovians living in Town Lane say they are concerned about the volume of traffic turning into the road off West Street, “ignoring” the ‘no through road’ sign in the road, to get to Sainsbury’s in Riley Road on the other side.

But concrete bollards at the end of the road stop drivers from being able to get into Riley Road, forcing them to reverse back down the narrow street, which is also used by pedestrians.

Residents now want to see clearer signage installed so drivers in West Street can see them before they turn into the road, and avoid a potential accident.

Tony Jacobs, who owns a property in Town Lane, said: “This happens on an hourly basis and sometimes two cars are trying to reverse out.

“This is a highly dangerous situation as mothers with prams and other pedestrians use this as a cur through to West Street.

“The council finally put a no through road sign on the tarmac at the entrance of Town Lane, but this is not working.”

He wants Bucks County Council to remove the concrete bollards on the Riley Road end and install metal ones on the West Street side instead.

He added: “They need to do something about the road. There needs to be a clearer sign.

“The cars are going to hit someone when they are reversing out. It’s so dangerous.

“It is only a matter of time before someone gets hurt.”

Resident Graham Collingwood says the ‘no through road’ sign should be installed in a more prominent place so that drivers in West Street can see it before they turn into Town Lane.

He said: “Town Lane is a very narrow cut through/alleyway from the main central car park to West Street, and is in constant use by pedestrians, mothers with push chairs, children, skateboarders, cyclists etc.

“There has got to be some physical barrier to stop people from going through. Maybe the council could put bollards in the middle of the road.”

Transport for Bucks (TfB) said in a statement that in addition to the tarmacked sign, it made arrangements with Wycombe District Council to have two name plates installed to the adjacent building at the West Street entrance to show it was a no through road.

Spokesman Florence Matthews said: “Town Lane forms a part of the public highway, linking West Street and Riley Road. The road was closed to through traffic many years ago and bollards were installed at the Riley Road end of the lane to prevent vehicles cutting through.

“Following the redevelopment of the funeral director’s premises in Town Lane there is now limited room for manoeuvre should a vehicle choose to enter the lane inadvertently.

“A request has been made to install bollards at the West Street end of the Lane, unfortunately as both business and residential properties have legitimate access to the Lane it is not possible to extinguish the right of passage at this point.

“Having made the alterations outlined above there is little more that TfB can do in this instance.

“We would remind all motorists that signs and lines are only installed where they are required and that, at all times, motorists must ensure that they are driving with due care and attention.”