A controversial traffic barrier has lifted the lid on incidents of road rage in a private residential street.

The barrier in Brockley Grove, Hutton Mount, received official consent last week despite the vehement protests of car drivers.

Now residents have hit out at some car drivers for displaying "loutish behaviour" as they sound their car horns to register their anger at being forced to get out of their vehicles and lift the barrier for access during peak traffic hours.

In a statement residents said: "It is because of this bully boy driving the barrier was installed in the first place. The sound of the car horns only reminds us to close the barrier."

The barrier was paid for by neighbours and erected on land owned by resident Thomas Candler.

The matter came to a head at Brentwood Borough Council's planning development control committee last week when members agreed the barrier should remain as the section of road is privately owned and their are no public vehicular rights of way.

The barrier received the written backing nine residents desperate to stop the road being used as a rat-run. But there were 71 letters of objection and a 96-signature petition citing it as a highway hazard and a cause of civil disturbance and arguments.

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