A pub on Bexleyheath Broadway has been damaged three times in the last 18 months after repeated incidents of cars crashing into the venue – including last week where a stolen car severed the gas supply.
Most recently, a stolen car smashed into a nearby traffic light, bouncing off it, and into the exterior of The Kings Arms pub, after a police chase during the early hours of June 16.
Officers on patrol noticed a car that had been reported stolen from Welling.
The driver ignored police requests to stop, a chase ensued, and the car came to a stop due to the crash.
Firefighters from Bexley and Erith stations attended the scene and mobilised a 25-metre safety cordon in response to a fractured three-inch gas pipe.
London Fire Brigade ventilated The Kings Arms, before leaving it in the care of the gas authority.
The brigade left the site at 5.01am and the local gas provider was eventually able to isolate the gas supply, making it safe.
The driver escaped on foot, but was later found and arrested on suspicion of theft and failure to stop.
There were no injuries and investigations into the incident are ongoing.
This is the third time that the pub has been hit by a car at high speed within an 18-month period, and the owner of The Kings Arms is now trying to raise awareness about the risks of the road.
Owner Pete Marshall told the News Shopper: “We are feeling frustration and anger as this was highlighted back in February and we are now five months on from that last major crash and we have had another incident that could have possibly been prevented from happening.
“I met with Highways back in February and it was agreed that the road would be looked at.
“In their opinion, they didn't seem to think that there were many issues with it, but then I pointed out the number of incidents that we've seen because there are a lot that go unreported.
“The pub has actually been hit quite a few times, but only three times majorly, and they're the ones that have required the police and fire brigade."
A spokesperson for Bexley Council said it understands Pete's concerns and is looking at opportunities to reduce the risk of further incidents.
This includes a possible barrier that will not affect pedestrians while providing protection for the pub.
Pete claims the road surface is very slippery, especially when wet, and generally these accidents happen when no one else is on the road.
He explained: “People that don't know the road that are speeding and not following other vehicles are therefore misjudging the corner.
“There needs to be some protection for the pedestrians, there needs to be protection for the pub and the road needs to be seriously looked at.”
He added that some members of the council have been looking into the concerns about the road, but Pete said that progress has been slow.
Pete said: “The vehicle was doing an incredibly high speed. It ran over the traffic light and then it bounced into the pub at the gas main.
“We've still not restored the gas to the pub.
"We had around 650 people booked between Friday and Sunday and with a non-operational kitchen – including on Father’s Day.
“We still can't use a third of the kitchen and various other parts of equipment we would usually use.”
Bexley Council says the causes of the crashes have been due to poor driver behaviour rather than motorists not knowing the bend exists.
Pete believes his business has lost thousands of pounds due to the recent incident and The Kings Arms has only just finished updating its new exterior after a previous crash which caused damage to the venue.
He added: “We also had a drunk driver that crashed through the front of the pub leaving a substantial size hole around Christmas 2021.
“In January 2023, a Bentley hit the pub, causing major structural damage.
“Another vehicle mounted the kerb at 3am on Monday (June 19) - they didn't hit the pub this time, but they did hit the bike rack at quite a substantial speed.”
The full statement from Bexley Council says: "We understand the concerns of the landlord and are looking at what opportunities exist to reduce the risk of further incidents, this includes a possible barrier that will not affect pedestrians while providing protection for the pub.
"Unfortunately it seems that the causes of these collisions have been due to poor driver behaviour rather than drivers not knowing the bend exists.”
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