A team from a gym have started a petition to force the council to address a busy road which is like “running the gauntlet” every day. 

Employees from Anytime Fitness UK on Croxley Business Park in Watford claim the roundabout linking Hatters Lane with Greenhill Crescent and Ascot Road has “been a problem” for many years. 

They said that cars often never indicate when turning left from Ascot Road onto Greenhill Crescent and come around the bend at high speeds.

Some of the team claimed to have had many “near misses” leaping out of the way of speeding cars to safety.

They said that there is a poor line of sight on the left turn at the roundabout owing to thick bushes and trees lining the paths.

Caroline Atkins, head of marketing has worked at Anytime Fitness for year and half. She said: “No one indicates, the bushes make it hard to see around the corner. 

“We need some slow signs on the road otherwise you take your chances.

"The roads are unsafe because drivers are on autopilot. We want a proper crossing it is not clear who has right of way.

“If someone was pregnant or not able bodied they won’t be able to get out of the way in time like us. It’s more dangerous now than ever.”

Watford Observer:

Clare Hunt, a graphic designer for the company, said: “I was nearly hit by a car - I think it might have been one of the trades people working in the area.”

The Anytime team said that the traffic on the business park is particularly dangerous during lunch hours when trying to get to Morrisons but that the general lack of indication and excess of speed is commonplace. 

They have now set up a petition which will be circulated in Croxley Business park to challenge to council. 

Marketing manager, Ruth Holroyd, said: It’s been a problem for at least since I started three years ago and it seems to have gotten worse.

“I’ve had near misses lots of items – I literally can’t see them coming. I contacted the business park office who said it is not their responsibility.

“Every day is like running the gauntlet. I filled in a form on the council website but because there hadn’t been an accident they said there would not be any action.”

Caroline added that there are speed bumps and signage along Hatters lane which regulate the rate cars drive at but it stops at the roundabout.

Hertfordshire County Council said in response: “We are happy to hear suggestions from Hertfordshire residents and road users about safety concerns. 

“Petitions are one way that people can do this. If sufficient signatures are obtained, the petition will be considered by the appropriate council panel.

“However, if residents have concerns about speeding or dangerous driving we would encourage them to initially speak to the police about enforcement and to their local county councillor.”