Hampshire County Council rejects claims over notorious junction near Winchester (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Hampshire County Council rejects claims over notorious junction near Winchester

2:05pm Friday 19th March 2010 in

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A HAMPSHIRE civic chief has denied villagers’ claims that staff shortages are hampering efforts to make safer a dangerous crossroads near Winchester.

The chairman of Owslebury Parish Council, Anthony Manship, said both highways engineers and the safety partnership had been hit by staff departues.

Mr Manship said: “There isn’t the staff in place to get the job done.

We don’t think the county is doing enough.”

He was speaking after a serious crash on March 7 at the junction of Longwood Road and Belmore Lane left one man with life-threatening injuries, and five others with more minor wounds.

But county councillor Mel Kendal, executive member for environment, said: “We work hard to make our roads as safe as possible, and I refute the suggestion that we are lacking staff in our departments as well as the implication that this has any bearing on the most recent road accident.

“It is true that one member of staff moved to Surrey, but a replacement has been appointed and this did not affect our response to safety issues.”

Cllr Kendal said: “We have implemented the road safety improvements identified following the previous accident last summer.

“The only outstanding item is the removal of a section of hedging which we are discussing with the farmer who owns the land adjacent to it and the parish council.”

A meeting is due to take place between the parish council and the council safety engineering manager to consider feasibility work into longer term measures such as a staggered junction.

Cllr Kendal added: “We are also awaiting the outcome of the police investigation into exactly what happened in this most recent accident.

“Their findings will need to be taken into account when considering further measures.”