Neighbouring county backs A5/A444 lobby
Neighbouring Leicestershire County Council has backed Warwickshire County Council in efforts to get the Highways Agency to reconsider funding safety improvements to the A5/A444 Royal Red Gate junction near Nuneaton.
The Leader of Leicestershire County Council, David Parsons, has been in talks with Warwickshire’s Leader, Cllr Alan Farnell, and is supporting the campaign to fund safety improvements
Following consultation with local people, a preferred option was identified to replace the existing staggered crossroads near the village of Caldecote with an off-line roundabout.
In 2002, an interim set of improvements were implemented at the junction which have been partially successful in reducing the number of casualties. However, since then there have been a further 25 accidents in the vicinity of the junction, comprising 2 fatal, 1 serious and 22 slight.
Cllr Farnell said: “This is a notorious junction and has been for many years and motorists are being put at risk by the Highways Agency’s decision not to go ahead with these works.
“I’m encouraged to see Leicestershire supporting our efforts to get these safety improvements back on line.”
Cllr Parsons said: “I fully support Warwickshire’s campaign to improve safety at this vital junction, which is used by many Leicestershire motorists. The Highways Agency should find the money now, before there are any more accidents.”
The Highways Agency has funding available nationally for safety improvements on the motorway and trunk road network. The modifications that were made in 2002 to this junction and the resultant reduction in casualties which have occurred have lead the Agency to reconsider whether the proposed off-line roundabout still represents value for money.
In 2006, the Highways Agency, in conjunction with both Warwickshire County Council and Leicestershire County Council submitted a Regional Appraisal Summary Table (RAST) for the scheme to be considered for funding through the West Midlands Regional Funding Allocation (RFA). These submissions for funding Major Transport Schemes will be prioritised by the Region later this year. The county council is concerned that if the scheme is not identified as a priority then any improvement may take a number of years to come forward.
The county council is in the process of contacting the Highways Agency to ask them to reconsider their decision not to fund the improvement from their own budgets. The county council has also contacted local MP Mike O’Brien (Labour, North Warwickshire) to seek his support for the scheme.