Safety fears at new A46 roundabout

Fears have again been raised about the safety of the new A46 Farndon roundabout after a van crashed through a barrier.

Police say the van was travelling along the A46 at about 12.20pm on Tuesday when it veered through a safety barrier and on to the centre of the roundabout.

It avoided a boundary wall around a giant electricity pylon, which already had a hole in it after a car collided with it last week.

The van driver suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.

Mr Andrew Morris, the owner of PA Freight, just off the roundabout, says the construction of the roundabout, which has an exit speed of 11mph from a 70mph dual carriageway, makes it dangerous.

The Highways Agency denies this. The cause of the accident involving the van is not known.

Mr Morris said vehicles had crashed on the roundabout at least four times since it opened in late summer.

“Sadly this is just what I warned would happen and the Highways Agency were so dismissive about,” said Mr Morris.

“A Vauxhall Tigra went into the wall last week and overturned on to its roof.

“The wall is now broken and the momentum of the van proves the pylon is at risk of being damaged or taken out.

“Had it been an HGV or a tanker then they would have gone straight through the pylon and the results could have been catastrophic.

“The roundabout should never have been built around an electricity pylon.”

PA Freight is in dispute with the Highways Agency over access to its site from the A46, and is awaiting the findings of a public inquiry.

A spokesman for the Highways Agency said: “Police attended the scene on Tuesday afternoon so the incident is subject to further investigation.

“Damage to the barriers will be repaired as soon as possible.

“Safety is the Highways Agency’s priority and we will continue to monitor the situation.

“The roundabout at Farndon has standard signage warning drivers that they are approaching a roundabout and its design adheres to all the usual safety standards.”