Villagers have spoken out following the closure of a Nottinghamshire ford following concerns of irresponsible driving. Rufford Ford, near Ollerton, is well known for regularly being at least two feet of water deep with multiple drivers still making their way through it.
Many cars have been abandoned over the years, but according to residents in Rufford more and more drivers have been speeding up before hitting the ford to splash a crowd of spectators. Nottinghamshire County Council says this behaviour is putting both drivers and pedestrians at risk, and it has closed for the ford for the foreseeable future.
Confirming news of the closure, Councillor Neil Clarke, cabinet member for transport and environment at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: "We know that Rufford Ford has become popular with locals and those from further afield, but we cannot stress enough that dangerous driving in this area cannot continue because it puts the safety of motorists and pedestrians at risk. Work with our multi-agency partners has been ongoing for some time to discuss safety measures at Rufford Ford and a feasibility study for traffic calming measures has been carried out.
Some residents in the area have expressed disappointment over the road being closed and say that the ford is a big part of the village, however many feel the closure is needed at least temporarily to tackle the ongoing safety issue.
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One Rufford resident, Ian Tucker, 41, said: "I'm pleased to see it closed. I enjoy watching it on YouTube, but the last few weeks there have been some idiots driving dangerously.
"It's when people start racing and you get lots of spectators and I feel sorry for some of the people on that side of the village as it must be horrible for them. I'm pleased they have stopped it but I hope they open the road one way or another soon."
His wife, Amy Tucker, 39, said: "I'm really happy it's closing, as long as it reopens with some speed cameras. It doesn't affect us personally."
Ian added: "It's really dangerous for pedestrians when they are racing through it with the way people are revving up and showing off for the camera." A 60 year old resident who did not wish to be named said: "For me personally we are really upset about it, because as residents we have not been consulted at all.
"How can you have Rufford without a ford." The resident says she is regularly visited by nieces and nephews who want to visit the ford when they come over, and that the spot is important for local history.
She added: "I feel sorry for people living in the cottages there as they will have a long way to go round onto the A14. Most people use it with respect.
She added that although the closure stops the problem for now, it is "not dealing with the issue of motorists driving dangerously." Adding: "There's a bigger road safety issue on the A roads I think."
Retired, Susan Whitehead, 71, of Rufford, is also frustrated with the closure. Speaking of the ford, she said: "I just think it is a part of who we are and where we are as a village.
"We have been here about 20 years and it's a spectator sport and people like to put on a show." Susan added: "We never dare to go through it."
She described avoiding the road with the ford as a "pain" but says she does so as she has "seen too many cars get stuck." When asked her thoughts on the closure, Susan said: "From my point of view, it's one of those things where it is either all or nothing.
"There are other solutions without something so dramatic. They should put some speed bumps in to stop people."
When asked about the closure, a 50 year old resident said: "I suppose really the only thing I was worried about was that lots of families and kids were standing on the roads as cars were going really fast." The office worker explained that although she has gone over it before she never did so "when it was deep."
She said: "I have to go that way everyday but I just go the long way round. My husband was saying that they should put cameras up, but I would love it to have a little bridge and we could walk over it everyday. That would save five to ten minutes.
"It does have an impact on the roundabout when the ford is shut." She explained that it "is fun to see the cars" going through it, but recently people have been doing so dangerously.
It comes after families recently told Nottinghamshire Live that they visit the area regularly to watch cars pass through the ford..
In recent years the ford has become known as an area where cars, vans and other vehicles get stuck their after heavy rainfall - it was once named as the most common place in the county for drivers to get stuck.
On many occasions, vehicles have become stuck in the water after their engines cut out - leading to emergency services being called to rescue operations.
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