Councillors consider safety at Warminster Road junction

THE difficulties of crossing the road at the junction of Warminster Road and Leigh Road were discussed by town councillors recently.

Just the week before the meeting, an elderly man was injured at the junction whilst riding a motorised mobility scooter (as reported in White Horse News). Dan Gmaj, whose house is at the junction, described the crossing area as “unfit for purpose.” 

The new dropped curb pedestrian crossing area was installed earlier this year and Dan Gmaj said he was surprised, as it suggested this was a safe place to cross. He said, “The preferred option remains to walk round into Leigh Road and cross where traffic visibility is better, or by the Matravers side gates in Leigh Road.”

Dan Gmaj has since been contacted by Royston Cox who is blind and has a guide dog. After hearing about the article in White Horse News he said, “You are right, it is a danger! Also being right on the corner, in training with a Guide dog we are told to avoid crossing roads near a turning, but this crossing point is especially bad as it is right on the main road, with vehicles turning into Leigh Road.” 

At last month’s highways, planning and development meeting, councill- ors agreed that the junction is a difficult place to cross safely. They discussed whether the slope itself was difficult and needs to be looked at.

Councillor Sheila Kimmins said there is also an issue with two elderly people who use motorised scooters along the road.”They are a danger to themselves and to other people,” she said. Cllr Kimmins also warned that for people with motorised scooters, turning left at the junction is a problem adding, “People need to be very careful.”

Cllr Brenda Pyne said the junction into Leigh Road has always been very difficult.”It is a difficult camber,” she said.She warned of the dangers of traffic going to the new estate in Hospital Road, from Warminster Road, opposite the Leigh Road junction. She said it is a difficult junction and could be an accident waiting to happen.

Councillor Cunningham agreed that people are saying the area is a difficult place to cross and wondered if a major change should be made of the junction layout. He proposed that councillors put the issue forward and suggest Wiltshire Council’s road officers could look at the junction and see if anything could be done to improve its safety. He suggested perhaps it needed an island  or splay, or perhaps change the speed of vehicles coming round the corner.

Councillor Mike Kettlety supported those views but cllr Nick Pyne said he didn’t think there was much wrong with the junction, only the amount of traffic. He suggested a sign could be put up warning riders of mobility scooters to take extra care. A mini roundabout would cause chaos and confusion he said.

Councillors agreed to the idea of a warning sign and to ask for the junction to be looked at and suggestion of any possible improvements be made.