Martham duck road safety call made to protect Norfolk birds

That is the message to drivers in the quaint Broads village of Martham who are said to be racing through it "like they are in Formula One" and posing a risk to its duck population.

The behaviour of drivers has sparked fears that the village's aquatic birds are at risk of being mown down.

Many people come and feed the ducks daily, particularly at the larger of the two ponds which is opposite the King's Arms Pub and home to at least 40 ducks.

Alison Thomas with one of the signs on her house at Martham (Image: Denise Bradley)

Alison Thomas lives near the junction which veers towards Hemsby, a section of road highlighted as particularly dangerous.

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In a bid to reduce speeding drivers, she has put signs reading "Duck Crossing Caution" on her house.

Signs on a house at Martham's village green where villagers feel the ducks are at risk from speeding drivers. (Image: Denise Bradley)

"The sad duck deaths on the road here highlight just how easy it would be for a child to be squashed by a car racing through the village," she said.

"It is absolutely terrifying how quickly cars fly through here and I want to support the parish council in their fight to reduce spending."

The recent spate of duck fatalities was highlighted at a Martham Parish Council meeting.

Bob Fossey, Parish Council chairman, worried about ducks on Martham's village green being at risk from speeding drivers (Image: Denise Bradley)
Council chairman, Bob Fossey, and his colleagues are determined to reduce speeding.

Mr Fossey, who moved to the village in 1980, has been leading a community speed watch scheme and is soon going to put up a brand new SAM2 Speed Sign that flashes red to speeding drivers and records data of speeds.

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He is also working to introduce a survey so people can record near misses.

Ducks on Martham's village green at risk from speeding drivers. (Image: Denise Bradley)

He said: "Speeding is a serious problem here in our pretty village.

"I am pledging to the council to launch a survey so people can record their close shaves and dangerous driving incidents they see.

"I think this will be powerful as current data only shows us actual crashes and we want to paint the whole picture."

Ducks on Martham's village green at risk from speeding drivers. (Image: Denise Bradley)

The parish chairman added that he believes the fact that all roads entering the village are 60mph adds temptation for drivers to maintain their speed.

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Jokingly, Mr Fossey said: "A few years ago I completed the Three Peaks Challenge and cycled the journey.

"When I was cycling through Wales I noticed there were very few speeding cars which I think is due to the cattle grids slowing drivers down.

"Perhaps this sort of thing would be an effective way to slow cars down and allow the ducks we have in Martham, rather than sheep, to live in safety."

Martham's village sign (Image: Denise Bradley) Ducks on Martham's village green at risk from speeding drivers. (Image: Denise Bradley) Ducks on Martham's village green at risk from speeding drivers. (Image: Denise Bradley)