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Someone is going to be killed

From the Chard & Ilminster News, first published Wednesday 12th Jul 2006.

A SPATE of serious crashes at an accident blackspot near Chard has prompted urgent calls for safety measures this week.

The Highways Agency has revealed it will conduct a safety audit after a stretch of the A303 from Ham Hill past Eagle Cross to New Town saw at least five crashes in the last seven days.

The most serious was on Saturday when the air ambulance was called to take the driver of a car to hospital in Exeter. The resulting road closure also caused chaos for diverted holiday traffic, including long tailbacks near the Pretty Oak junction on the A30 near Chard.

The spate of incidents started on Wednes-day afternoon, when three cars were involved in a smash.

New Town resident Tony Petty told the News: "My daughter and I heard it and went out to make sure no-one was hurt, and we directed traffic for about 45 minutes - we've done that a few times.

"Someone will be killed one day."

Mr Petty suggested a 30mph speed limit and a roundabout at the Eagle Cross junction, near the Eagle Tavern.

On Friday, four vehicles were involved in a collision at around 11am, closely followed by another smash as the clear up operation was concluded.

On Saturday, at about 1.50pm, firefighters and police were called to the Devon side of the Eagle Cross junction where a Renault Clio was in collision with a Peugeot 406.

A police spokesman said the driver of the Peugeot was airlifted to hospital with injuries not thought to be life threatening and that three other people suffered minor injuries.

The road was closed for about 2 hours and traffic was diverted.

New Town resident and A303 campaigner Gill Bromley said: "From the residents' point of view we are sick of hearing the squeal of brakes. We're waiting for another fatality - it's just horrible."

Residents also reported a one-car collision on Ham Hill earlier on Saturday.

On Monday, the Highways Agency confirmed that a safety study of the stretch of road would be carried out in the autumn.

South Somerset District Council ward member David Lamb helped set up the study but said he feared accident and injury figures may not reflect the true situation as not all crashes are reported to the police.

"I dread this summer and I think we will see many more accidents happening," he said.

He also called for more double white lines and the widening of the road at the Bishopswood turn off.

Traffic from the A30 in Chard's High Street will be sent on a 20-mile diversion via Yarcombe, the A303, Southfields roundabout, and Donyatt while resurfacing work is carried out over two nights from July 20.

The route includes the dangerous stretch of road through New Town.

High Street will be closed from 7pm-7am for two nights while the work takes place.

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