Birmingham man left baffled after pedestrian island built at end of his driveway

A homeowner has been left baffled after finding bollards and a pedestrian island limiting access to his home built outside his property without any notice.

Zakir Malik, 33, has been unable to reverse out or turn right into his own drive which has led to a number of near-misses outside his home in Hodge Hill, Birmingham.

The estate agent woke up one morning to discover the pedestrian island directly outside his home without any prior notice or consultation.

He said the safety measure has proved more dangerous as he has almost been involved in several accidents while trying to manoeuvre off his driveway.

Dad-of-two Zakir has now complained to council bosses in a bid to get the two "death-trap" bollards removed from along Coleshill Road.

He said: "I woke up one morning and there it was, I couldn't believe my eyes. I had no consultation whatsoever from anybody that this was going to happen.

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"I’ve been living at this address for 20 years and I’ve always used my drive in that time, you can see from the road it is a driveway that is used often.

“I can’t pull in from the right as I come along the road because it is blocking my driveway.

“It means I have to drive further down and do a three point turn on a busy junction and then do a U-turn to get back on to my drive.

“I can’t reverse out, I have to reverse on to the pavement and pull out that way, which is surely more dangerous for pedestrians.

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He added: “This morning I was nearly involved in a collision as I pulled off my drive to go to work and its not the first time that has happened.

"It's a death trap and an accident waiting to happen.

He said his local councillor had written to the highways department asking for it to be removed but so far nothing has been done.

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Zakir said the bollards were built on October 21 in a bid to stop driver's turning right out of a new housing development opposite his home.

He added: "They've completely cocked it up because motorists could still turn right, it defeats the purpose of being there.”

"In the meantime it has left me trying to pull all sorts of dangerous manoeuvres as I just try to get in and out of my home.

"I had workers outside my house the day before it was built and I asked them what was going on. They said they were going to put up that island.

"When I objected they said to speak to the council and that someone would speak to me about the issue.

“But the next day when I woke up they had installed it in the early hours. I was absolutely shocked."

Labour Councillor Majid Mahmood, of Birmingham City Council, said: “I am disappointed there was zero consultation with either the affected residents or local elected members.

"I find it incredulous work was undertaken overnight.

"I have asked the council to investigate why consultation was not carried out and to remove the refuge until consultation has been undertaken.”

A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: “This has been installed in relation to the nearby housing development as part of planning conditions designed to ensure highway safety.

“We are aware of the concerns of residents locally and they are being investigated by officers in order to identify what, if any, changes are needed in order to reach a solution that is satisfactory for all.”

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