CONCERNED Upton residents have welcomed plans for changes to be made to a ‘dangerous’ junction but have questioned whether building a new roundabout would make a big difference.
Last week the Observer reported how West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin called for the A38 junction linking Upton -upon-Severn with the A4104 towards Pershore to be altered to protect the safety of motorists and pedestrians.
Mrs Baldwin has lobbied Worcestershire County Council and the Local Enterprise Partnership to support plans to turn the junction into a roundabout and has now made the case to Highways England bosses.
And residents have backed the calls for something to be done with some saying they have had lucky misses while driving past or coming out of it..
Helen Ashby has written a letter to the Observer (see pages six/seven) calling on something to be done before a fatal accident happens but added a new roundabout would not be the answer.
Her letter reads: “I am glad to see that this very busy junction is under review.
“Last week, on my way home from work, I was subjected to some rather aggressive driving from someone approaching the junction from the Tewkesbury direction.
“He tail-gated me as I turned right towards Pershore and, because I was clearly not moving fast enough for him, gestured me, in a none-too-polite manner as he passed by, swerving onto the other side of the road as he went.
“Whilst I don’t believe a roundabout is the answer here, I do think a speed limit of 40, possibly even 30 mph, on the approach to the junction from both the Tewkesbury and the Worcester directions would ensure, at the very least, that those trying to cross the A38 can do so in relative safety.
“Could we please get something done before the accident waiting to happen becomes the fatal accident that could have been avoided?”
And on Facebook members of the ‘Upton Parish Notice Board’ said a roundabout would not be suitable.
Rich Morton said: “I think a “turning left” lane would be a better idea than a roundabout or even traffic lights. The junction is not busy all of the time as some junctions are in more populus areas.”
Neil Brookes said: “Reduce the speed limit and maybe better road signs with instructions on and better road markings!”
But others in the Facebok group welcomed the idea of having a roundabout in place.
David Chapman added: “Speed is not the issue there, it’s bad layout and extra traffic as a lot of Malvern traffic now travels through Upton to avoid the Ketch nightmare “improvements”.
“It would really need two roundabouts, a second one for the Pershore road. The answer is absolutely not traffic lights! That would just cause extra delays as they would never be phased right and more accidents as people would ignore them.”
