Council delays decision on “dangerous” junction right-turn ban

Councillors are to drive a minibus up and down a “dangerous” and “confusing” junction to experience it for themselves before making a decision on whether to ban right hand turns.

Lincolnshire County Council’s Planning Committee deferred the plans for the A16 Crowland Bypass at the Radar Junction with the B1166 and the junction with the B1040 on Monday.

County and District Councillor Nigel Pepper said he had been lobbied by many residents and, as a former officer in charge of Crowland Fire Station, had attended a number of accidents and fatalities on the road.

He said: “Know from the outset, this is not the answer, nor is it the sticking plaster to sort out a solution.”

He called for the plans to be abandoned all together and an alternative solution found, adding it would save the council an estimated £78,000 cost on the experiment, which is set to last at least six months.

He said an estimated cost of £2million for a roundabout “seemed excessive”  and called for it to be properly costed.

County and District Councillor Nigel Pepper. Photo: Councillor Nigel Pepper Facebook page

Chairman Councillor Ian Fleetwood said he appreciated concerns but noted there had been fatalities and a “good number of accidents”.

Since the bypass opened there have been 21 recorded accidents at Radar Junction, with three resulting in a fatality and four classed as serious.

All but five of them took place during a right-turn or cross-over manoeuvre.

Councillor Fleetwood said: “I’m going to propose a site visit where we go down, have a look, in a mini-bus, drive it at low-speed and see exactly what the turning is like.”

In September 2018, 48-year-old Matthew Bilby was killed after riding into the path of oncoming traffic.

An inquest into his death called the junction “dangerous”, “horrendous”, “confusing” and “not fit for purpose”.

The similarly designed junction with the B1040 will also be subject to the bans.

Two coroners’ reports and a feasibility study have said the safest solution would be a roundabout.

However, the county authority has said the funding is not available.

The junction with the B1040 has had 14 recorded incidents, four of which were serious but with no fatalities.

However, the ban will still apply due to the predicted increase in traffic flow and the junction being of a similar design.

More than 60 residents, farmers and businesses have objected to the plans due to concerns over slow-moving traffic, driver frustration and increases in high-risk overtaking manoeuvres.

They said the move would isolate the town and affect access to its school, amenities and businesses.

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