Gloucestershire road junction dubbed a danger
A Leckhampton junction has been dubbed a danger following a series of accidents.
Residents are so concerned they have contacted Cheltenham Borough Councillor Klara Sudbury, (LD, Charlton Park) about the junction where Old Bath Road and Leckhampton Road meet.
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Klara Sudbury at the junction
They say several accidents have happened at the spot.
Mum Linda Johnston, who lives in Old Bath Road with her family, including three children, said: “There have been at least six accidents over the past 18 months at the junction – from experienced drivers to the not so experienced.
“Highways changed the layout a few years ago by putting in bollards, but in doing so made it a more difficult camber to negotiate and therefore more dangerous in my book.
“I’ve had several cars crash through my fence. The last one wasn’t even a foot away from my conservatory.
“Joyriders also crashed into the bus stop nearby at 3am last year, completely destroying it. If it had been 3pm there would have been several people waiting and almost certainly someone would have been killed.”
Many parents walk along the route with their children on the way to Leckhampton Primary School, including Linda.
“I’m very concerned and I just want someone to take a serious look into what could be done to stop any more accidents from happening,” she added.
A meeting has now been set up between Mrs Sudbury and Gloucestershire Highways next week.
Mrs Sudbury said: “There’s a pedestrian refuge at the junction and bollards. It seems that cars coming down from Leckhampton have problems turning and it has led to accidents.
“If residents have cars crashing through their fences then that’s a serious matter and it’s obviously very dangerous. I wouldn’t want someone to be hurt.”
Stephen Burden, stakeholder manager for Gloucestershire Highways, confirmed a meeting, with a date yet to be set, would take place next week where he would present accident statistics. He said: “We’re aware of residents’ concerns about this junction. I will be meeting with them and Klara Sudbury to discuss the issues.”
13 Comments
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by spin-spotter, cheltenham
Friday, January 29 2010, 12:22AM
“Of course there are lots of bad drivers. There are also many good drivers who occasionally make bad driving decisions with disastrous consequences.
We have to cater for both.
And of course there are dangerous junctions. All junctions possess/present a degree of danger, some more than others.
Improving the general standard of driving would make a big difference to road safety, but we also need to do the best we can to reduce the number and severity of dangers that exist in our road system.”
by harry hand, Cheltenham
Thursday, January 28 2010, 10:52PM
“good evening sirs. i believe that we need to share standards-compliant metrics in a modern workshop mode we must streamline innovative niches surely?”
by Simon Henly, Eastington
Thursday, January 28 2010, 6:59PM
“John, Chel
I am afraid it is you who is wrong! There is very rarely a case of a junction being dangerous it is usually plain old bad driving.
If visibility is restricted due to parked cars or bushes (as you say) then drivers should approach with more caution and slower than otherwise, simple!
I bet the lady featured in the article will not be satisfied until the road is closed (to everone but residents of course) like the chap whingeing about traffic if the new ASDA is built.”
by rickinindia, holidaying
Thursday, January 28 2010, 2:32PM
“Having lived in Old Bath Road for the last fifty(50) years the junction of Old Bath Road and Leckhampton Road (known to the locals as the 'Foot of the Hill') has every few years been raised as an issue. Klara Sudbury has said that this is a matter of local importance. This I would like to challenge and ask how many of the local residents have actually complained.? If Ms Sudbury feels that it is so important what about other matters with regards to her particular Ward. The Gloucestershire Highways will have done their research and I guarantee that other junctions in her area will have a far worse record!”
by Klara Sudbury, Leckhampton
Thursday, January 28 2010, 2:15PM
“I actually laughed out loud at Monkey Boys comments - I would probably think the same about me if I didn't know me based on pictures in the Echo.
I do smile quite a lot and have a lot to be happy about in my life but this is a serious issue which local people are concerned about - beaming broadly at a dangerous road junction isn't really appropriate. I am just trying to help my constituents get a solution to something that has been raised with me as an issue of local importance.”