Mayors back call for action on danger road

From the Gazette & Herald, first published Thursday 16th Oct 2003.

The Mayors of Calne and Chippenham are backing the Gazette campaign to improve safety on the A4 which runs between their towns. Debbie Waite and Lily Canter report

THE Gazette's campaign to cut the speed limit on a stretch of the A4 known locally as Death Row, is taking on new supporters every day.

Chippenham Mayor Desna Allen and Calne Mayor Tony Trotman have joined the campaign and this week launched our petition calling on Wiltshire County Council to introduce new safety measures, including a lower speed limit, to the route between Chippenham and Calne.

Coun Trotman, whose elderly mother was involved in an horrific accident at the Studley Crossroads last July, called on Gazette readers to stand up and be counted.

"Local people have been injured and even killed here for years and it has to stop," he said.

"My mother, who is 86, spent eight months in hospital following her accident at Studley, last summer.

"At one point, we thought she may even lose a leg.

"But even though she is now recovering, she will never lose the memory of what happened and meanwhile, many more people's lives are at risk.

"I would urge everyone to sign this petition, as soon as possible."

Coun Trotman said Studley crossroads was a particular nasty black spot.

"It is a desperately dangerous junction. The amount of accidents that happen there that are not reported is amazing.

"My daughter-in-law and stepson live in the village and I fear for them every day when they are taking the youngsters to school.

"I am really concerned and have been for some time."

Coun Allen also threw her support behind the campaign.

"Even as a girl, I can remember accidents on that stretch of road. It is incredible that we should still be fighting to slow it down," she said.

"I am happy to support the Gazette's campaign and will be urging everyone I know to put their names to this petition."

The stretch of A4 between Chippenham and Calne has witnessed a catalogue of serious accidents in recent years, with five in the last five weeks alone.

On September 25, Geoffrey Smith, 60, of Carpenters Close, Calne, died, when his Mitsubishi car was in collision with a lorry close to the Murco garage.

Residents have also told of the dangers they have experienced from living so close to the A4.

Baby Sipson has lived alongside the A4 for 25 years and has written to the county council on more than one occasion to ask if something could be done about the road.

"When I first moved here the road was quiet but now it is very dangerous," said Mrs Sipson.

"On one occasion I was nearly killed.

"I went out with my watering can to water the roses and there was an accident whilst someone was trying to turn into the Sheldon Office opposite me.

"A car braked suddenly and went straight into my grass verge.

"Seconds later and I would have been knocked down. Every week there is an accident here.

"As soon as people pass the Pewsham roundabout they speed like mad."

Megan Grange works at The Lansdowne Arms on Old Derry Hill and lives on Black Dog Hill, which leads down into Calne.

Last May, a tanker crashed and overturned in front of her home.

"There are numerous traffic calming measures that could be put in place to make the road safer," said Mrs Grange.

"It is just horrendous on that road.

"The road surface is terrible, there is no proper drainage and it is just a blind hill. People come hurtling over the top and it is just too late to stop if someone else has slowed down or is turning.

"There are no entrance or exit signs and yet there are lots of hidden turnings on the road," she added.

"I would like to see it a maximum of 50mph between Calne and Chippenham ­ whatever it takes to stop people from dying."

This sentiment is also echoed at the Lysley Arms pub, which lies at the foot of Old Derry Hill and where staff routinely witness the disturbing results of accidents.

"We see the cars speeding down the hill and hear the screech of brakes all the time," said assistant manager, Lee Morris.

"Something needs to be done to slow the traffic down. I am not in favour of speed cameras, but I think they are justified on this road."

But despite the strength of public feeling and the admission that both Studley Crossroads and the Derry Hill junction are on their accident blackspot list, Wiltshire County Council's highways department says it has no plans to implement safety measures on the A4.

Andrew Wyatt, traffic and road safety manager for WCC, said: "Speed is not always the main issue.

"Around 95 per cent are caused by driver error, but factors can also be things like fatigue, drink-driving, or skidding problems in the wet, that demand road surface improvements.

"When we do make changes to cluster sites like the Derry Hill junction, this usually involves minor measures like signing and lining changes.

"We also highlight turning traffic and try to give drivers as many messages about what is coming up as possible.

But neither of these sites are in the budget for changes in the coming year."

The Gazette wants all its readers to join us in our crusade to improve safety on the A4 and the best way to start, is by signing our petition.

Copies are available at all our offices, including Market Place, Chippenham and Market Place, Devizes and are also available at the Lysley pub, at the Murco garage on the A4 and at the Old Lane pub in Pewsham.

Ed Jones of Calne Without Parish Council, which has also joined the campaign, said: "We hope that between the parish council and the Gazette we can get something done."

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