FEARS of a fatal accident have led to residents in a Fairford street petitioning Cotswold District Council to allow them to build driveways for their cars.

Every householder bar one in Victory Villas, in London Road, has signed the petition calling for the right to construct the new drives.

The group of ten houses has no allocated parking and every car owner has to park on a grass verge on the opposite side of the main road through the town where drivers often speed dangerously.

Rose Blundell and Tracey Walton have joined forces to instigate the campaign after a number of accidents and near misses involving parked cars and passing traffic.

Mrs Blundell said an incident a few weeks ago when six cars ploughed into the parked vehicles just moments before her grandchildren were due to be driven away forced her into action.

She said: "At the end of the day I and the neighbours feel there's no reason to prevent us having adequate drives.

"I'm not going to sit here and wait for something to happen. "We are not militant people, we lead quiet lives, but we've all got together on this."

Mrs Walton said a former Victory Villas resident had been refused permission to build a drive a few years ago but no-one knew why.

She added: "We have been very patient over the years but after that six-car incident we have all had enough now. "We want something done before someone is killed."

Every resident except one has also agreed to help cover the driveway costs by increasing their rent with Fosseway Housing Association, which has agreed to the proposed changes.

Mike Napper, senior planning officer at Cotswold District Council said the previous application for a driveway was turned down by the council in 1996 and again on appeal in June 1997.

The application was refused because the proposed drive's visibility and vehicle turning space was inadequate and deemed as dangerous.

It also required a stone wall to be removed from the front garden which is in a conservation area.

Although the planning history is considered when assessing a new application Mr Napper added: "We would never the less have to take any application on its own merits.

"We would consult with the Highways department as well as look at the effect of the visual impact on that part of the street scene."