‘Near-misses’ on A12 Eastern Avenue after workmen remove white lines
The junction as it should be used. Aldborough Road South (left) and Eastern Avenue (foreground). Picture: Ron Jeffries - Credit: Archant
“Near misses” between drivers are becoming a regular occurrence at a Newbury Park junction, it is being claimed, after road improvements left it “not fit for purpose”.
Workmen spent 10 weeks at Eastern Avenue’s junction with Aldborough Road North and Aldoborugh Road South in the autumn, giving it a mini facelift.
But they removed white lines in the centre of the junction, which motorists say have turned it into a game of dodgems.
Mary Garrett, who had a near miss last month, said: “I use that junction every day and it’s just been awful since. You’re on tenterhooks.”
The while lines indicated to drivers coming down Aldborough Road North or Aldoborugh Road South where to position their car if they were turning in to Eastern Avenue.
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Now with the lines gone – but to be replaced “as soon as possible” by Transport for London – it is claimed motorists are frequently getting it wrong.
Ms Garrett, of Aldborough Road North, said: “There was a car wanting to turn right from Aldborough Road South and it just came straight at me.
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“I had to pull out into the road – it was very nearly a head-on.”
Accident
Nicholas Smith’s wife Jean has also had a near miss at the junction since the white lines were removed.
Mr Smith, 38, of Aldborough Road North, said: “The junction is not fit for purpose.
“Something is clearly not right there – it’s an accident waiting to happen.”
At the junction, drivers need to sit passenger side to passenger side if they meet cars in the middle.
But at other junctions, drivers need to sit driver side to driver side before turning.
Ron Jeffries, chairman of residents’ group Aldborough Hatch Defence Association, has urged TfL to replace the white lines – which have been missing since November.
Dana Skelley, director of asset management at TfL, said: “As part of our ongoing work to make London’s roads better for all, we have been carrying out improvement works at the junction of the A12 Eastern Avenue and Aldborough Road to improve accessibility and reduce community severance at this location.
“The completion of these works, including reinstating the central junction markings, was delayed due to emergency Thames Water works on the A12.
“The markings will be replaced as soon as possible and we apologise for any inconvenience this delay has caused.”
