Appeal for action at blackspot junction

Safety fears have been raised over a "nightmare" crossroads in the Black Country after two crashes in the last fortnight and a number of near misses.

A call today went out for action to improve safety on the road in Stourbridge before someone is killed.

Drivers cutting across the busy A4036 Pedmore Road from Cemetery Road, Lye, Stourbridge, have been involved in smashes. Four people have been injured and one car was thought to be a write-off in the crashes.

About 30 residents have launched a campaign to get the layout of the junction changed and ban people from driving straight ahead or turning right.

Ward councillor Mohammed Hanif is setting up a public meeting with highways chiefs in the new year.

He said: "We are fed up with this and we want something done before someone is killed. There are near misses every day and I'm surprised there haven't been more bad crashes."

On Wednesday, December 8, a Ford Ka and a Renault Megane were involved in an accident at the crossing.

Both drivers sufffered whiplash injuries and the Ka driver, a woman in her 20s, also had cuts to her head. Nine days later, a Ford Transit and a Volvo estate collided. The Volvo driver, a man in his 30s, and a female passenger were hurt. Councillor Hanif said he feared the next crash could be fatal.

Resident Neil Marshall, 41, of Pedmore Road, said: "I've been driving down Pedmore Road and people have just pulled out in front of me.It's such a busy junction that I don't think it's their fault. The main road is three lanes wide and I don't think they realise how difficult it is to get across."

But Mark Edwards, 29, of Cemetery Road, said: "Traffic is already bad enough around here and we don't want it made any worse.

"Restricting where people can turn is only going to create more problems in my eyes."

Dudley Council's traffic manager Peter Van Geersdaele said the authority was looking into the issue and would see if a solution could be found.