Closure of A1 death crossing ruled out

Oct 8 2008 by Brian Daniel, The Journal

CLOSING off a crossing on the A1 where three people were killed has been ruled out by transport chiefs. Calls to block off the intersection at Guyzance, near Swarland, in Northumberland, were made by police at an inquest into the fatal crash earlier this year.

Driver Stanley Loftus, 82, of Vale House, Jesmond, Newcastle, and his passengers Harold and May Fox, 76 and 71 respectively, of Swarland, died when their car was struck by another vehicle as it attempted to cross the dual carriageway last September.

At the May hearing, police collision investigator Jeff Gallon said the nature of the crossing, where vehicles must stop between north and southbound sections of carriageway, meant that the only way of preventing further deaths or serious injuries was to block it off.

Now, however, the Highways Agency has deemed the closure a non-starter.

An agency spokeswoman said last night: “We do not consider that closing the junction at Guyzance is an appropriate solution. Indeed, closing this junction would have the effect of increasing the accident risk at neighbouring junctions.

“There may, however, be some scope to make the junction more conspicuous to drivers on the A1, and at the same time provide enhanced skid resistance at the accident conflict point, and we will look to address this in our forward programme of works.”

Police would not comment on whether they agreed with the agency’s findings last night.

Chief Inspector Simon Packham, of Northumberland Area Command, said: “We work closely with the Highways Agency to improve road safety and as part of this make regular recommendations for their consideration following our attendance at traffic collisions.

“Ultimately the Highways Agency makes its decisions based on all the relevant factors in the area.”

Alnwick District Council has considered the agency’s findings and has agreed to seek views on them from other parties before meeting with them to decide how to progress improvements to the crossing.

Coun Gordon Castle said: “We want to be satisfied that everything is being done to reduce the chances of such an accident happening again at the Guyzance junction.

“Our main concern is public well-being and so we are seeking further talks with the police, the speed camera partnership and parish councils about what should be done. It is important that any solution is reached as quickly as possible but through careful consideration and without rushing into the wrong decision.

“We would urge that any changes that are agreed upon should be included as soon as possible in the county council or Highway Agency’s programme of works.”