After reporting on another round of terrifying incidents on the A505 over the last two weeks – and hearing of many more near-misses – the Crow is today launching its own campaign to call upon Herts County Council and other agencies to act now and make the A505 safer between Royston and Baldock. Enough really is enough.

Not a week goes by when we don’t hear of lives being put at risk, mainly on the stretch in question – which has a 70mph speed limit, is dotted with cut-throughs in the central reservation for access to our rural villages, and slip lanes onto the junctions that are just too short to be safe, not to mention poor visibility and a real problem with wrong-way drivers.

We’ve reported on occasions when members of our community – often on their way to work or see family – suffer life-changing injuries on this perilous road.

The panic these people and their families must face, only for it to turn to anger when they read that their situation is not unique.

Mum-of-three Lynsey Langdon started her own safety campaign after her policeman husband Greig broke his back at a Slip End crash in 2016, and the Crow will be working closely with her in the months to come. She said: “I will keep going, because this isn’t about paperwork, or cars, or numbers – this is people’s lives.

“I’m just a normal mum and can only do so much, but having the backing of the newspaper gives our message some clout.

“I am grateful to the Crow for backing this – you’re our local newspaper writing about issues that affect our community. We hope that, with the Crow fighting for improvements too, something will be done – and soon.”

North East Herts MP Sir Oliver Heald said: “The A505 is an important road for our area, which I use a great deal myself.

“It has a history of accidents and some difficult junctions. Over recent years I have visited the sites of accidents with Highways officials and successfully pressed with our county councillors for better signage, speed cameras and cutting back of vegetation and trees to improve sight-lines.

“Last year the county council agreed to a major feasibility study looking at all the issues with a view to taking action. I pay tribute to campaigners and back... the Crow’s campaign for action and think the feasibility study will inform us as to what the best measures are.”

A Herts County Council spokeswoman said: “We are aware that this section of road is of concern to residents. The county council is already undertaking a feasibility study to assess traffic movements within this area. This is likely to be finalised by the end of March. The options contained within the report will be subject to a consultation to determine the best course of action.

“This is a complex issue and there are a range of factors that need to be taken into consideration as part of the study. Unfortunately the chief cause of accidents on our county roads remains dangerous driving and we strongly urge all motorists to drive safely. We would like to reassure residents that road safety is of paramount importance to the county council.”

To show your support just tweet or mention @roystoncrow on Twitter and Facebook using the hashtag #MakeTheA505Safer.

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