New crossing safety call

Nov 28 2008 by Brian Daniel, The Journal

Brian Daniel

(01665) 519736

brian.daniel@ncjmedia.co.uk

CALLS for improvements to an A1 crossing in Northumberland where three people were killed were increased last night following another accident in the same place.

Three cars were involved in the crash at the intersection at Guyzance, at just before 1pm yesterday.

The accident came just two days after Alnwick District Council agreed to ask the Highways Agency to look at improving the crossing, where pensioners Harold and May Fox, 76 and 71, of nearby Swarland, and driver Stanley Loftus, 82, of Vale House, Jesmond, Newcastle, died in a crash last September.

Police last night said there were no reports of serious injuries in yesterday’s smash at the intersection, where drivers must stop between north and southbound sections of the dual carriageway.

But local councillor Tony Hood claimed that was probably down to luck, and said the accident added weight to calls for action at the junction. Coun Hood, who was at Tuesday’s council meeting on behalf of Felton Parish Council, said most crashes are caused by driver error.

But he added: “This does not mean the situation does not need improving because it does. It needs a wider central reservation, pure and simple.

“This happens time and time again but what can we do about it?”

Yesterday’s accident involved a Volkswagen Passat, a Ford Focus and a Renault Laguna. Police said it appeared the Passat had been in collision with the rear of the Focus, which was in collision with the back of the Laguna.

Last September’s fatal crash happened when the threesome’s car was hit by another as it crossed the dual carriageway approaching the intersection.

At an inquest into the deaths in May, police collision investigator Jeff Gallon said the accident had been caused by driver error.

But he said the only way to prevent further fatalities was to close off the crossing.

The Journal has since reported that the agency believes the closure of the intersection is a non-starter, as it would increase traffic at neighbouring crossings.

And at the meeting of the district council’s operations scrutiny and overview committee on Tuesday night, members agreed to ask the agency to investigate as a matter of urgency possible improvements to the intersection. Councillors called for the agency to look at a reduction of the speed limit on the stretch of road to 50mph or 60mph, improving the central waiting area at the crossing and the possibility of creating a staggered junction. The committee agreed to ask the agency to attend its January meeting to report back. Chairman Gordon Castle said: “What I do not want is for this to sit on the shelf and gather dust until the next accident.”

The meeting was also attended by representatives of Northumbria Police and Northumberland County Council as well as Coun Hood.