THERE have been more fatalities on roads in the district than anywhere else in Essex, according to figures just released by the government.
Data released by the Department for Transport reveals that between 1999 and 2010, 146 people died in road accidents in Epping Forest District, more than anywhere else in the county.
It is followed by Chelmsford and Thurrock.
The majority of fatalities occurred on the stretches of the M25 and the M11 motorways that pass through the area, with there being 21 deaths recorded on the M25 and 16 on the M11.
Another danger spot is the notorious A113 Ongar Road which runs between Ongar and Abridge where nine people have lost their lives in the past 10 years.
Terence Ruddigan, 75, runs Woodgrange Poultry Farm in Ongar Road.
He said: “It does not surprise me at all that there have been so many deaths down here. It is unbelievable, there are constant accidents.
“Cars speed down here all of the time. It is really dangerous. Even on stretches of road with a 30 miles per hour limit cars do 50.
“Another problem is that at the moment we have a lot of heavy goods vehicles coming down and the road is very narrow so two can’t pass each other.
“What happens is that one vehicle will overhang off the road, putting pedestrians in danger.”
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