Accident waiting to happen at Gillingham roundabout (From Bournemouth Echo)

Accident waiting to happen at Gillingham roundabout

8:00am Wednesday 28th July 2010 in

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PENSIONERS have urged highways bosses to take action to prevent a “very serious accident” near sheltered accommodation in Gillingham.

Fred Willoughby a resident of Riley Court in the town’s Newbury district, spoke out after residents reported several “near misses” while trying to turn right at a mini roundabout on Le Neubourg Way.

“Most of the people who live here are elderly. I can really see a nasty accident.

“We have had a lot of very near misses. If there was a collision, the passenger side of the car would take the full impact,” he said.

“That’s what everybody here is so scared of. There are a lot of elderly wives who travel in the passenger seat.”

He said letters from County Hall highways chiefs had ruled out requests for a conventional roundabout with kerbing, and for a safety camera on cost grounds.

Town councillors discussed Mr Willoughby’s concerns at a recent meeting and accepted that drivers flouting regulations at mini roundabouts caused the problem.

Cllr Val Pothecary called for a “keep clear” box to be marked on the road surface like those in Shaftesbury, but Cllr Mick Lodge said the problem was caused by drivers simply ignoring vehicles to their right and driving straight across the mini roundabout. Cllr Dennis Griffin – a qualified driving instructor – said the problem was a police matter.

“Road traffic regulations should be enforced by the police. “If the police will not act, then there is very little else that can be done,” said Cllr Griffin.

Andy Culley, a technical officer at Dorset County Council, said signs and road markings at the roundabout were correct, adding that it was incumbent on drivers to comply with them.