Calls for traffic lights at 'dangerous' crossroads

Traffic lights would make the junction safer, campaigners said

Hundreds of people have signed a petition pressing for traffic lights to be installed at a 'dangerous' crossroads near Market Bosworth.

Campaigners are urging Leicestershire County Council to take steps to prevent crashes at Bull in the Oaks crossroads, where the A447 meets the B585 near Market Bosworth.

The petition, started by the Market Bosworth Society, has been signed by 789 people so far and will be presented to the authority at the start of June.

The county council said it would investigate the issues raised by the petition.

The current lay-out of the crossroads requires drivers on the B585 to give way to vehicles in the A447.

"That crossroads has an awful track record of crashes," said Market Bosworth Society chairman Nigel Palmer.

"There have been 25 recorded accidents there where people have been killed or injured since 2001.

"The figures only reflect accidents where there have been casualties, but the actual number of crashes is probably double or treble that.

"In the last three weeks there have been two accidents where vehicles have been badly damaged."

'Poor view'

"It's a dangerous junction," Mr Palmer said.

"Drivers using the junction are subject to long delays which serves only to inflate the danger.

"The design of the slip road to turn onto the B585 from the A447 when travelling west is poor.

"Drivers emerging from the junction from the west have a poor view of vehicles travelling from the south."

Mr Palmer said: "Traffic lights are a sensible, simple and cost effective way to make that junction safe instantly and we hope the county council acts on our suggestion."

The petition can be signed on the county council's website and a paper copy is available in the pharmacy in Market Bosworth until 31 May.

A county council spokesperson said: "We are aware of the Bull in the Oak Crossroads petition and will investigate the issues raised, responding via our usual processes once it closes."