Wiltshire MP urges a re-think of the A338 as a major trunk road
It follows the death of a 7 year-old girl at Collingbourne Ducis
A devastating accident on the A338 in Collingbourne Ducis which claimed the life of a 7 year old girl has prompted fresh calls for more to be done to make the road safer.
On Tuesday 13 July, Eloise Jackson died after she was riding her bike near her home and collided with a lorry.
At the time, the driver of the HGV remained at the scene and no arrests were made.
There have now been five deaths on the route through the Collingbournes in three years.
Devizes MP Danny Kruger visited the crash site and spoke to locals who were upset that complaints about the road over several years have "fallen on deaf ears."
He says he witnessed himself the issues with the traffic:
“While we stood there talking dozens of HGVs came whistling past, round a blind corner and into the village where further sharp bends often caused them to get stuck. I was told that every day there are altercations between drivers who struggle to pass each other."
“This road was made for horses and carts to get through a quiet country village. It is now a major trunk road connecting the big distribution centres in Swindon and Amesbury."
Mr Kruger says the number of lorries are causing real problems.
“Towns and villages all along it - including Marlborough, where I have seen for myself how the big lorries struggle on the narrow slope going up Herd Street - are blighted by the enormous vehicles. And now, for the fifth time in three years, we have a death on the road through the Collingbournes."
Mr Kruger has now written to the Transport Secretary and Roads Minister inivting them to visit Collingbourne Ducis and urging a "major rethink of the designation of the A338/A346 as a major trunk road."
He remains a hopeful a review of roads in the region will lead to change.
“The good news is that a review of the north-south links in the South West is already underway, and I hope that this is an opportunity for change. The big lorries should be on the A34, to the east, and the A350, to the west. This will also require better regulation of satnav use by HGV drivers. It is simply inappropriate for the big lorries to use this road in the volumes they do."
“Nothing any of us can do can make things right for the Jackson family. But we now have the imperative to improve the safety of the road so that other families can be safer in their village.”