Museum says drivers are at risk every time they pull out of site (From Times Series)

RAF Museum says drivers are at risk every time they pull out of site

2:44pm Tuesday 9th October 2012 in News By Natalie O'Neill

The Royal Air Force Museum says visitors and staff are endangering their lives every time they leave the site because Barnet Council will not stop cars from parking outside its exit.

Museum staff have asked the council to paint double yellow lines outside the site in Grahame Park Way, Colindale, down to Avion Crescent where cars currently line the road on a daily basis.

Drivers wanting to turn right out of the museum are forced to drive into the centre of the road in order to see oncoming traffic.

Dave Rowe, general manager at the museum, says directors have been complaining to the council for approximately ten years about the build-up of cars along Grahame Park Way but nothing has been done.

He said: “It’s bad for everyone trying to turn right because it’s very difficult to see beyond the parked cars. You have to come out into the middle of the road just to see.

“There have been accidents and near misses out here. It really needs sorting out otherwise at some stage there will be another accident here.”

Anji Patel, commercial services co-ordinator, raised the problem at the museum’s staff council meeting last Wednesday and contacted the council the following day.

The 40-year-old mother-of-two said: “Turning out of this road is way too dangerous but the council isn’t doing anything about it.

“It makes me feel very nervous. As a mother it terrifies me to have to do this every day of my life.

“We’ve had lots of comments from people asking why nothing is being done. I don’t see why we have to wait until there is a serious injury or a death.”

Approximately 150 people work at the museum which attracts 5,000 visitors a week.

The Times Series is waiting for a comment from Barnet Council.