Weston Hills councillor once again calls for action on crossroads after 38th crash in 2 years

Action needs to happen now to improve the safety of a notorious crossroads before someone is killed, according to worried villagers.

People living close to the Mill Drove North, Clay Lake Bank, Old Fendyke Road and Fulney Drove crossroads in Weston Hills are once again voicing concerns after recording the 38th crash in nearly two years.

Emergency services were once again called to the area after two cars were involved in a collision on Clay Lake Bank on February 4. One motorist was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Just two days later police returned to the area after a crash involving three vehicles took place on Fulney Drove.

Coun Anthony Casson has been fighting for improvements on the crossroads for the last few years and feels that even adding simple ‘Stop’ signs would make a big difference - but feels his calls are not being heard.

He said: “Lincolnshire County Council won’t seem to do anything whatsoever. They are waiting for some poor soul to be killed.

“The county council need to get this sorted urgently.

“I have suggested lots of times replacing the Give Way signs with ‘Stop’ signs.

“This is the 39th crash to have happened since the road re-opened.”

Mill Drove North had been closed for several months at its junction with the A16 at Cowbit in 2022 but once it re-opened locals began to keep a record of incidents.

But Coun Casson is urging people to continue reporting reporting incidents to the police in order to ensure that something happens with the site.

He said: “I want people to continue reporting these incidents. The more that report directly to the police, the better. People are saying it is a waste of time as they don’t do anything but they won’t if we don’t keep reporting them.

“It is the same with everything these days, people are loosing confidence in reporting things when nothing happens.”

Weston Parish Council chairman Chris Dicks said the site is not within the parish but residents regularly raise concerns about it.

He said: I attended that junction with Robert Gibson and representatives from Highways before Christmas and looked at the alleged problem with this junction.

”One complaint is that the view to the right when exiting from the Clay Lake Bank is poor due to a field hedge, however if you stop at the white line you have a clear an unobstructive view towards traffic coming from the A16.

”The main reason for most of these collisions is the drivers of vehicles especially when there is a 60mph limit with very few drivers slowing down for the two side roads and clearly some drivers at these side roads are impatient to wait for a safe gap in order to pull out.

”I did suggest that perhaps better signage for all roads leading to this junction and perhaps a reduced speed limit on the approach .

”Unfortunately I don’t think Highways were that interested, however my main concern would be the behaviour of drivers using this location.

Cowbit Parish Council had previously expressed concerns about speeding near the crossroads and called for a lower speed limit.

A spokesman for Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership said: “In response to local concerns, the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership Accident Investigation and Prevention team have assessed this location and undertaken site visits on a number of occasions.

“In October 2023, covert seven-day speed surveys were completed on both Mill Drove North and Fulney Drove. The average sped of vehicles on both roads was 42.9mph with one percent or fewer vehicles exceeding the speed limit. As the collisions are focused at the crossroads it was important to understand if exceeding the speed limit was likely to be a factor and it is not.

“As such, the investigations have focused on visibility considerations.

“Starting in August 2024, a new lining scheme was carried out on the minor roads, this included offsetting the junction markings eliminating the “head on” effect and incorporated some small hatching. Additionally, existing signage was either replaced or renewed where required.

“As with all road signs, the use of STOP signs is governed by Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD) and its companion guide the Traffic Signs Manual (specifically Chapter 3). At the last review, the visibility requirements were not met for the introduction of STOP signs.

“However, the Traffic Signs Manual also states that 'the possibility of making a visibility improvement at a junction should always be investigated before considering a STOP sign'.

“As such, in light of further collisions, despite the recent improvements, the AIP team will revisit the junction and further consider whether STOP signs are feasible.”

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