https://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/24540911.a33-road-closed-crash-winchester/

Following the accident on the 25th August there was an update article in the Hampshire Chronicle.

It was very accurate and I was grateful that the road was closed for a relatively short time. A long closure often means that the accident has had fatal consequences.

And it could so easily have been so. There are many accident black spots across the County but this is one of the worst.

The accident record of many of the junctions in Winchester district are listed in the recently published and publicly available document www.localplan.winchester.gov.uk/Library/Assets/attach/177/Strategic-Transport-Assessment-July-2024.pdf (page 56 lists the sites)

So why is a decision to make this  junction safer urgent and why is this one different?

This junction has had many changes made as the pattern of traffic around our of the city has changed. Traffic out of the north of Winchester has increased as Kings Barton and Kings Worthy has grown, and the dangers of the crossroads at Lovedon Lane /Park Lane results in accidents too. 

Minor tweaks have been made: the road has slower speed limits, lit speed indicator devices installed  and a new prominent STOP sign on the Cart and Horses pub side looks like ‘something has been done’ but it’s not enough. 

Many accident investigations cite driver error, but after a decade since the first fatality at this site, and many emergency vehicle attendances to minor accidents, I ask- why are drivers confused here? 

The perceived dangers here puts pressure on the Lovedon Lane junction, on Hyde Street traffic,  on the CarFax junction and these accidents (even minor ones) cost the Emergency services huge sums. The changes to junction 9 will mean the traffic will be constant, with no traffic light gaps, and National Highways expect traffic to possibly double- but still no funding from the County Council to sort out its own highway dangers. 

Kings Barton traffic is also making its way to this junction to avoid city and A34 delays. I’ve called for this junction to be remodelled for years, but the County Council says it doesn’t have the money to do a proper job. Why not we ask?

Is it because Hampshire County Council reportedly spends so much on repairing potholes that have been poorly repaired before? 

Meanwhile the human and financial cost of this dangerous junction falls on residents, the emergency services and on us all as vehicle insurance companies demand higher car premiums. 

It is so frustrating -and dangerous- that this work hasn’t been included in the National Highways Junction 9 works, but after all the consultations, the County Council doesn’t have a clue how to afford or make the changes that the public (and I) demand. 

I had a meeting with the County Council Leader booked for the week before the Bank Holiday to discuss funding for this work, but it was then postponed to week commencing 26th August. I’ll make sure that he sees the CCTV footage of the accident.

I cannot bear the thought that many more people will be hurt here.

Meanwhile please respect the STOP signs, and travel through this junction slowly- so you can ‘stop on a sixpence’ and avoid the agony of causing or being involved in a crash: maybe with a car, cyclist or pedestrian.

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