A PETITION urging transport chiefs to change the layout of Whittington Roundabout has been launched after motorists claimed the junction was putting people’s lives at risk.
Almost 350 people have already signed up online, while several angry drivers have also joined a new Facebook campaign to raise concerns over what has been described as a ‘death-trap’ junction.
Worcestershire County Council had spent about £1.3million in 2012 on improvements to the roundabout, which included a new slip-road for drivers looking to join the Southern Link Road from the M5.
But Lisa Ventura, who set up the Facebook page and the petition last month, said the island was still a “massive issue” among drivers and she now wants council bosses to look at making changes to it.
“I think it is only a matter of time before there is a big incident there where either somebody is seriously hurt or God forbid somebody losses their life,” she said.
“It is still not fit for purpose, so I just want some awareness about it and for the highways authority to say there is a problem there.”
The St John’s resident said she was also promoted to launch the petition after witnessing a “close call” at the junction, while many motorists have taken to the Campaign to Change the Road Layout at Whittington Roundabout Facebook page to voice their concerns.
Mamta Magar Hema said: “Getting in and out of Whittington Village itself is a nightmare.
“I’ve had several near misses with my children in the car with me and they then have the cheek to horn at you – like it was your fault.
Victoria Caroline Yarnold added: “I had a car written off on that roundabout. I have to use it everyday to drop my daughter off at school and I dread it on a daily basis. It has to change.”
Mrs Ventura said she was now looking to set up a public meeting to allow people to express their views.
Peter Blake, head of integrated transport at Worcestershire County Council, said thousands of vehicles have been using Whittington Roundabout safely every day since the project was completed in September.
But he added: “As we do with all of the county’s highways, we will continue to monitor things and act if the current situation changes at all.”
