Road safety fears at new homes site

Bridport’s Advearse pressure group fears there will be a ‘serious accident’ at the Miles Cross junction as work continues on the Foundry Lea housing development. The group claims there could be as many 60 ‘heavily laden’ HGV movements there per day, claiming drivers are often ‘confused’ about rights of way.

An Advearse spokesman told The West Dorset Magazine: “The Miles Cross junction at Bridport has a long history of accidents and near misses. “Advearse welcomes the decision to improve the junction but is very concerned that there is a possibility that 50 or 60 heavily laden HGVs per day will be negotiating the junction before the roundabout is completed. “Add to that the construction vehicles coming on site that could mean 200 to 300 journeys every day. If some of these vehicles are attempting the manoeuvre coming from the east and turning right the risks of a serious accident will be very high. “Those who use the junction regularly know that drivers are often confused about which direction has right of way. “The dangers apply equally to busy holiday times and the quiet times when vehicles speed down from Chideock.

“We know that most local people are not aware of what is planned. We believe that commercial profit for the builders is being put ahead of public safety.

“Our primary request is that the roundabout be finished before the construction work starts. If that request goes unheeded we request that west bound construction traffic should not be allowed to turn right off the A35 into West Road.”

Rebecca Edmond, National Highways south west head of planning and development, said: “Our primary consideration is the continued safe operation of the strategic road network, and in view of the plans for development alongside the A35 we’re working closely with Dorset Council and developers to ensure the safety of all road users, both during and after construction.”

New £2m discharge lounge

Dorset County Hospital (DCH) has secured £2millon to help free up hospital beds by creating a new, larger discharge lounge facility. DCH submitted a bid to NHS England after the Government announced an additional £50million in capital funding to expand hospital discharge lounges and ambulance hubs. The funding will be used to install a single-storey modular building that will be pre-made using modern methods of construction and then assembled on site.