Calls for speed limit on "dangerous" A34 stretch

East Ilsley councillors say accident blackspots are causing chaos almost daily

A CAMPAIGN to reduce the speed limit of the A34 to 50mph near East Ilsley, labelled “the most dangerous stretch of road in the country”, is gathering pace.

Statistics have shown it averages more than one serious accident per month.

The chairman of East Ilsley Parish Council Gordon Allsop, said residents were reaching the end of their tether with the amount of crashes on the road which endangered lives and caused gridlock through the small village as cars and heavy goods vehicles jammed the rural lanes attempting to escape trouble.

Mr Allsop uncovered Highways Agency statistics which showed a single half-mile stretch of carriageway near the East Ilsley junction recorded 13 accidents resulting in death or injury in three years, and over the same period of time the road between Beedon and East Ilsley recorded 46 accidents resulting in injury.

“We think it's about the most dangerous stretch of road in the country. If you tell anyone you are from East Ilsley they know the name, they have heard it from the traffic reports almost every day,” he said.

“It's clear the stretch is an accident blackspot. It is a huge issue for us. We are always mentioned on the traffic news.”

He said it was felt a speed limit was the most straightforward answer to the problem, as well as being the cheapest and quickest to implement.

“Our question would be ‘Why not at least conduct a trial to see if it produces an improvement?”

Mr Allsop said the 50mph limit through South Hinksey in Oxfordshire, on the A34 north of East Ilsley, was a good example of how the speed restriction could work.

East Ilsley residents so fed up with the constant traffic blight an informal text-messaging service has been set up for people to notify each other of trouble.

The man who made calls for action to be taken following a series of crashes on the road in the weeks following Christmas, Brightwalton resident Adrian Hollister, said: “The response to this campaign has been amazing, with even the most hardened pro-speeder agreeing that there is a problem on this stretch of road.

“Whilst reducing the accidents on the A34 is a critical thing to do, we are also trying to stop reckless and thoughtless diversion driving through our Downland villages, and we are trying to protect the reputation that West Berkshire is an amazing place to live and not an accident blackspot.”

Thames Valley Police said it would only take a view on the safety of the road if approached by the Highways Agency to act.

The Highways Agency said it would look into the matter but has not yet offered a statement.