Call to make Long Ashton junction safer

A worried Long Ashton resident is calling for improvements to a busy road junction following a crash which left a mother and child in hospital.

Simon Martin, aged 37, wants the signs, lighting and road markings at the junction of Providence Lane and the B3128 improved following the crash there on Thursday.

A woman in her 30s and her two-year-old child had to be cut free from the car by firefighters following the accident, which happened at 9.20am.

The mother suffered suspected spinal injuries and was taken to hospital.

Her child and the woman driver of the other car, believed to be in her 70s, were also taken to hospital for a check-up.

Mr Martin, who lives just off Providence Lane, was walking along the B3128 on Thursday morning when he heard a loud bang.

He rushed over to see what had happened and was one of the first people on the scene.

Mr Martin, who only moved to Long Ashton four months ago, said: "Providence Lane is quite narrow and its junction with the B3128 is dangerous because traffic travels down the main road fast. Improvements need to be made to the junction, whether it is by installing traffic lights or putting in other traffic calming measures such as better lighting and signs.

"The signs are covered by foliage and need to be made more prominent."

Mr Martin said he was concerned that after 17-year-old Nathan Edwards from Burnham-on-Sea was killed in a crash there last November, nothing had been done to make the junction safer.

He said: "I want to know why nothing seems to have been done.

"Action needs to be taken to stop another serious or even fatal accident from happening."

Long Ashton Parish Council has been campaigning for improvements for months following crashes at the junction.

Council chairman Charles Cave said: "We have been pressing North Somerset Council to make improvements at this junction for some time.

"Currently there are slow signs there and we think these should be replaced with stop signs.

"The signs which are there are covered up with vegetation and this also needs to be cleared.

"We have consistently asked the council to spend money on improving the Providence Lane junction because we believe it is an accident waiting to happen.

"The latest incident has just proved this.

"It gives me no pleasure to say to North Somerset Council 'we told you so'."

North Somerset Council spokesman Nick Yates said: "After an incident like this we will look at the circumstances and any contributory factors to see if there are additional safety measures we can put in place.

"An advance 'give way' sign was erected and the road markings were renewed earlier this year.

"We also diverted our white lining truck which was in the area following the accident to re-paint the lines at the junction.

"We will also be studying the police report into the circumstances of this collision."

The road through Long Ashton is used by commuters from Clevedon and North Somerset driving into Bristol.