Home   News   Article

Subscribe Now

Motorists still risking their lives at Headley Ford





With one lane of the A339 at Headley to close on Monday for up to 12 months owing to major bridge works, Headley councillors have expressed concern that motorists will short cut through Headley Ford.
The site, on the border between Hampshire and Berkshire, is where a man died last month after his car was swept down the swollen River Enborne, and there are claims that motorists have been removing barriers and driving through the still-closed ford.
Hampshire County Council said on Tuesday that major work on Knight’s Bridge, Headley, which is set to last 12 months, will start on Monday.
As a consequence, the A339 at Headley – a major route between Newbury and Basingstoke – will be reduced to a single lane controlled by traffic lights, for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, together with a 30mph speed restriction.
At a meeting of Ashford Hill with Headley Parish Council on Monday evening, parish councillors, who have previously expressed concern that motorists would attempt to short cut through the ford owing to the A339 lane closure, discussed the problems surrounding the ford, where mental health tribunal judge Jonathan Gammon lost life last month.
Mr Gammon, aged 52, from Teddington, Middlesex, died after the Toyota Yaris car his wife was driving was swept away by flood waters.
Council chairman Barrie Hiscock said that he had since witnessed people “completely ignoring” the closed signs at the ford.
“I watched a man drive down and remove the barrier and drive through with a snorkel exhaust,” said Mr Hiscock, who added that people were “deliberately removing the barrier and driving round it”.
Following an earlier meeting, the parish council wrote to the Environment Agency with concerns that a “physical entity”, possibly fallen trees, were causing a weir effect downstream on the River Enborne and as a result water levels at Headley Ford were increasing.
Hampshire County Council said that an application was in hand for a road closure at the ford for up to 18 months, following a meeting between the county council, West Berkshire Council and police.
A spokeswoman for the county council, Diana Leahy, said: “During this time we will undertake a consultation on the future use of the ford.”
During the bridge works at Headley on the A339, signing of alternative routes has been agreed with West Berkshire Council, Hampshire Constabulary and the Highways Agency for the M3, M4 and A34. Abnormal loads will be diverted on to the A34 and A303. Signs on local roads likely to be used as diversions will be erected advising those not suitable for through traffic, those not suitable for large vehicles and those that are for access only.
Pedestrians will be diverted onto a temporary footpath and footbridge to the south of the existing Knights Bridge.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More