CONCERNED residents in Martin Hussingtree are calling for urgent action to improve road safety at a junction which, they say, has been responsible for multiple accidents in recent years.
Worcestershire County Councillor Marc Bayliss joined residents at the Pershore Lane junction of the A38 – the main road which links Droitwich to Worcester – to discuss the concerns of speeding on the road.
Coun Bayliss explained the challenges to a county council highways engineer as he urged the authority to consider reducing the speed limit of the road from 60mph to 40mph.
Police have reported four notable collisions at the junction in the last three years which is a cause for concern for residents living there, along with those from the nearby pub and garden centre.
Resident Gordon Leeming, 76, is responsible for the latest campaign to improve the junction’s safety after he and another neighbours’ previous attempts – six and 10 years ago – fell on deaf ears.
After launching a petition and taking it around his neighbours, Gordon had overwhelming support from fellow residents fed up with the problems caused by the junction.
He told the Observer: “Residents have tried for years now and we want the speed reduced. We have everybody in the village in support of the campaign.
“Ten miles an hour below motorway speed limit for this road is madness.
“We have regular accidents at the junctions, some of which have caused serious injuries and even fatalities.”
Mr Leeming also highlighted a myriad of other problems at the junction including drivers frequently ignoring the three way traffic lights and noise and exhaust pollution.
Coun Bayliss said: “It’s clear to me this junction needs action and we need to reduce the speed on the approaches.
“Properties in the immediate area are affected by the speeding, making it extremely difficult and dangerous to use safely.”
A Worcestershire County Council spokesperson confirmed engineers had visited the site this week and a statutory consultation process was currently being carried out.
