A ONE-woman campaign to improve safety on a residential road in Sturminster Newton has taken a giant step forward.

Susan Kelleher demanded traffic calming on Honeymead Lane after her house was hit twice in three weeks during March by out-of-control cars sliding in icy conditions down a steep section of the road.

A further two accidents outside her home in the same month caused such serious damage to a car belonging to her partner, Stuart Blake, that insurers wrote it off.

Now the terrified mum – whose house is still being repaired some five months after the collisions – said a complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman has prompted a change of heart among highways bosses.

“Things seem to be moving forward. The highways team manager has been out to see me and apologised profusely about me having to go to the Ombudsman. “He said it shouldn’t have gone that far,” said Mrs Kelleher.

Honeymead Lane is one of the most popular thoroughfares in Sturminster Newton, leading to the town’s high school, leisure centre, and the Yewstock School for children with special needs.

Andrew Brown, a highways manager at Dorset County Council, said a minor improvement would resolve the problem. “This involves constructing a build-out to the existing footway in front of the property, incorporating a curbed edge and bollards.

“While acting as a barrier to prevent cars from colliding with the property, this will also have a slowing effect by creating a visible narrowing of the road, reducing the chances of cars skidding.

“The improvements are scheduled to be constructed in November, before the worst of the winter weather arrives,” said Mr Brown.