Mistley villagers call for improved road safety following swan deaths

Mistley residents have expressed their concern about the safety of swans and other birds that use the Stour Estuary as their habitat.

Claims have been made that passers by are ignoring current signage at The Walls and feed swans from their cars, on the verges and roadside, which has led to a semi-tame flock spending much of their time next to a busy road.

In recent weeks two swans have been killed by vehicles at The Walls. 

One upset resident said: “One swan was killed in the road and the other in a seemingly safe place on the grass bank.

"In that instance, car tire tracks show that the vehicle mounted the pavement for some reason and hit the swan.

“The road currently has no signage, speed restriction or speed bumps and vehicles are often seen exceeding speed limits with little to no interest in safety. 

“There is a great deal of concern about the coming summer months when tourists flock to the area.

Gruesome - Another swan killed in a crash in Mistley (Image: Submitted)

“The road is often completely used for car parking with several ice cream vans as well.

"Children and adults will often walk out from in between cars, so it’s not just the swans that are at risk.”

Regulars to The Walls are aware of the swans and will drive more cautiously, however, the area is rapidly expanding and traffic along the road has increased significantly.

Residents have come together in the hopes of working with the council to put up signs asking traffic to slow down and increase swan awareness, as well as aiming for a 20mph speed limit along The Walls.

Charlotte Howell, chair of Mistley Parish Council, said: “We’re always very concerned to hear when there’s an incident that involves injury or worse.

“There is signage along the walls but we are aware that since we changed our litter bins, some of the signs are no longer there as they were fixed to the bins.

“We do need to look at making sure it’s very clear on that stretch that people shouldn’t feed swans in their cars or on the Greensward."