Fears of a fatality as A16, A17 and Cowbit crossroads
A series of crashes on a recently reopened road has prompted fears that someone will be killed.
South Holland district councillor Anthony Casson has received reports of ten crashes on Mill Drove North, Cowbit, in recent weeks.
Concerns have been raised about the state of a number roads in South Holland - shortly after it was revealed that MP Sir John Hayes had been unable to get a meeting date confirmed with Department of Transport under secretary Baroness Vere.
The road had been closed for much of last year due to structural work on a bridge near the junction with the A16.
With more traffic now reusing the road once more there have been a series of crashes at the crossroads with Old Fendike Road and Clay Lake Bank.
Coun Casson, who represents Moulton, Weston and Cowbit, wants to see better signage along the road to highlight the crossroads and encourage motorists to drive sensibly.
He said: “There have been 10 accidents and the last bad one was on Christmas Day.
“People do not stop at the crossroads and to my way of thinking there wants to be better signage.
“There have been serious accidents in the past and there needs to be better signage before there is a fatality.”
Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership says it is aware of collisions on the crossroads. Its records show that there have been two slight injury collisions in the last three years.
A county council highways spokesman said some enhanced signage and road markings had been erected at the cross roads but one or two had been damaged.
They say that the missing signs will be replaced shortly.
Shredded tyres on A16 potholes
Social media reports state that a number of vehicles had ‘blow outs’ and shredded tyres due to the series of potholes along the A16 between Applegreen services and Crowland bypass.
A spokesman for the county’s highways department said: “We have repaired potholes reported to us on Fix My Street in this location with temporary measures and will continue to do so as we are made aware of any further issues that arise.
“The measures taken so far will be superseded by more permanent repairs once the weather improves and conditions and temperatures then allow the materials for a stronger repair to be used.
“We would strongly encourage all road users to report any further issues with the road surface to us via Fix My Street which will alert our crews to where assessment is needed and subsequent action taken as appropriate.”
A number of deep potholes have also been reported on the A17 close to Holbeach.
According to Fix My Street there are three close to the Mill Lane and Stockwellgate junctions.
Last month highways councillor Richard Davies hit out at the county’s MPs for ‘forgetting’ about issues with our roads when they are in the ‘ivory towers of Westminster’ - a verdict not shared by Sir John. The county council had £12million slashed from its roads maintenance budget - and won’t get this back for next year.
But Sir John - a former Transport Minister - says that he has made a case for the area’s roads ‘repeatedly’ and ‘perpetually’ but could not force Baroness Charlotte Vere, the undersecretary at his old department, come.
* Is there a road problem you think should be highlighted? Email victoria.fear@iliffepublishing or call 01775 765428.
