TUFTON and Whitchurch residents have criticised the Highways Agency for failing to deal with what they believe to be a dangerous road layout and speed limit on the outskirts of Whitchurch.

The northbound A34 exit slip road junction with Nuns Walk and Winchester Road outside of the town has a 60mph speed limit, which residents say is far too high.

As well as this they claim that there is an ongoing problem with traffic driving on the wrong side of the road in both directions.

Mike Stead lives in Whitchurch and has been campaigning for action for over a year.

He said: “The posted limit of 60 is stupidly fast for the slip road with two off-camber corners.

They cannot be driven safely at more than 30mph.

“Science and the laws of physics clearly show that even 50 is too fast for this road. The best driver in the best car on the best tyres, in the dry, cannot stop in time should a car be turning across their path at 60mph.

“Locals have become used to driving in an extremely cautious, defensive manner when both coming down the slip road and when turning right into Nun’s Walk. Many people have witnessed vehicles exiting the slip road then veering to the right side of the road and into oncoming traffic headed for Tufton, to then turn right on to the A34 south slip road.

“Likewise, many have witnessed vehicles – HGVs, buses, cars – driving UP the slip road into the face of exiting traffic, wrongly thinking they can then head north.

“Recently the Highways Agency confirmed in writing that someone needs to die before funding will be made available to even look at, let alone sort this intersection out. Locals are horrified at this corporate attitude.

The Highways Agency is hiding behind policies and funding models that are clearly not fit for purpose in this instance.”

In response to these claims a Highways Agency spokesman said: “Safety is a top priority for the Highways Agency and we regularly review the safety of our roads, which are amongst the safest in the world.

“We also use data provided by the police to understand why accidents happen. The four collisions which have occurred at the A34 junction with Nun’s Walk and Winchester Road over the past ten years have been on the northbound exit slip road, and the road layout has not been deemed a contributory factor.

“We will, however, continue to monitor safety at this location, as across our network."