STEPS are being taken to improve a treacherous stretch of road where many drivers have lost control and veered into the wall of an MP’s country estate.

Anti-skid surfacing is being laid at Stag Gate, on the A31, in an attempt to cut the number of crashes. Flashing warning signs and changes to the busy junction are also in the pipeline.

South Dorset MP Richard Drax, who has recently repaired the battered wall on his Charborough Park Estate, welcomes the move but is urging the Highways Agency to do more.

“I’m encouraged by what the Highways Agency are doing, but want them to go further, sooner, and quicker,” Mr Drax said.

“I just thank God no one’s actually been killed yet.”

Around 10 to 15 cars go into the wall each year, he says.

“It’s pretty grim,” Mr Drax said. “Around 100 yards of wall was almost flattened.

“It hasn’t let up and it’s incredible we’ve not had a fatal accident there yet. The wall is almost intact again now, we’ll just have to see how long it takes after it’s rained for another crash.”

Last year, road markings and illuminated road studs were put in, along with a section of high friction surfacing.

Now another area is being done.

Mr Drax said: “I wish they had gone the whole way around the corner, because where the cars actually skid is just off this new surface.

“Why surface just the approach and not the actual corner?”

Flashing warning signs and a study into improving the alignment of the junction opposite Stag Gate are awaiting funding, a Highways Agency spokesman said.

“That is very much something I want,” Mr Drax said.

“When you drive into a village with 30mph warning signs, the cars do slow down. It really does work.”