Like many of you, I use this junction, everyday. I am Chairman of the Tubbs Hall too, so often make my way through the Lovedon Lane junction too.It is difficult- but how dangerous is it? The most recent accident was yet another in a catalogue of recent dramatic accidents there, starting in May of this year.
Why the sudden increase in accidents? There is no pattern to the accidents, but it is clear that something needs to change here.
The HCC executive member, Cllr Woodward has said in an email to me that it is estimated that a roundabout here would cost approx £3million. The Council just cannot justify that much money to be spent here. I agree.
But the Barton Farm mitigation money (S106 funds) allowed for a sum to be spent here- and we still have the original £50K ‘in the pot’ for work here. The proposals that our meeting have put forward includes a simple scheme put forward by Mr Conroy (who lives nearby and uses the junction near his home).
Yesterday I went to visit the Police Sargent as one of my routine talks about incidents in the area.

We discussed this series of junctions-and there is one clear pattern.
All accidents are related to the speed of the traffic.

How can we reduce the speed?
The average speeds cthrough here are not high but that doesn’t tell the full story. The speed of the fastest drivers is crucial. How can we reduce their speed too?

The proposal put out in May (ironically we were discussing it at KWPC as the first accident happened in May) includes clear crossing points for pedestrians at all of the three crossing points on the A33. The proposal includes narrowing the road slightly and a central island at Lovedon Lane. This would slow down traffic- but still doesn’t address the problem of turning right. However, the accidents don’t show a pattern relating to turning right. It’s a dilemma for traffic engineers and a dilemma for us all. But Mr Conroy’s plan seems to solve many of the provlems we experience as we use the junction.
We won’t stop campaigning for improvements here until his suggestion is fully investigated.

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