A505 Safety Concerns
At the December Parish Council Meeting, Highways verbally advised the Parish Council regarding the investigations ongoing and options being considered by HCC Highways department right now.
The most effective options will require Government funding, but some faster measures should be possible through Highways, and that is what is being looked currently.
The Chairman of the Parish Council has written to local MP Chris Hinchliff in advance of the MP meeting with the Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Transport as follows:
Ashwell Parish Council has received a number of comments from Ashwell residents expressing concern over the A505, and the most recent fatality. I’m aware of some of your actions in trying to influence safety improvements for this road, and I’m writing to lend the support of the Ashwell Parish Council to those initiatives.You will be aware that many Ashwell residents drive on the A505 via two connecting roads to Ashwell:
- Slip End Road
- Ashwell & Morden Station Road
Joining or crossing the A505 is becoming increasingly hazardous as a result of the increasing volume of traffic using the A505 and the numbers using the two access roads. Visibility is limited in relation to the speed of traffic on the A505, requiring great speed & distance awareness on the part of drivers, as well as vehicle control in all weathers.
As the increase in house building expands the rural populations the number of vehicles using these village roads to access the A505 increases, adding to the risk of accidents.
The numbers of accidents and deaths over the last 40 years at these two junctions should be all the justification required to prioritise road safety improvements by the Government that will permanently remove these known risks.We are aware that you will shortly be meeting with Lilian Greenwood, Minister for Road Safety, and trust that you will do everything in your power to persuade her to prioritise the allocation of the necessary funds to permanently address the A505 safety issues in these accident black spots.
