North East Herts MP Sir Oliver Heald has called for a review of accident blackspots on the A505 following the death of a 26-year-old dentist from Royston on the road last week.

Royston Crow: MP Sir Oliver Heald said he is concerned about the A505 and that a full survey is needed to continue to make improvements.MP Sir Oliver Heald said he is concerned about the A505 and that a full survey is needed to continue to make improvements. (Image: Archant)

Joy Harrild, of Dog Kennel Lane, was travelling along the A505 between Royston and Duxford in her black Ford Ka at about 9.30am on Tuesday when it collided with two other cars. Sadly, she died at the scene.

In a statement, Joy’s family said: “Joy was the brightest and kindest of us all. We are incredibly proud of the person she was and all that she achieved.

“An avid lover of the outdoors and baker of every birthday cake, Joy dedicated her life to helping others.

“She was passionate about her work and was at the heart of our family. We will miss her every day and will never forget the love she gave us all.”

An inquest into Joy’s death opened at Cambridgeshire Coroners’ Court yesterday.

Two other cars were involved in the crash and a 52-year-old man was treated for non life-threatening injuries at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.

In the two days following the crash, which happened in Cambs, four people were taken to hospital after two separate collisions just across the county border in Royston.

And Cambs County Council said there have been four accidents in the last six years at the Flint Cross junction of the A505.

Sir Oliver said: “I use this road regularly myself and I have visited with Herts county councillors Fiona Hill, Tony Hunter, Terry Douris and campaigners.

“I believe a full survey of our section of the road needs to be done to see how to make the road as safe as possible. There are a number of different challenges and places of concern as the accidents show.

“There has been work to improve sight-lines by cutting back vegetation, hedges and trees, and better road signage put up earlier this year.

“I also call on drivers to drive cautiously on this road and take care as they enter and leave it. I believe the survey study will show us how matters can be further improved.

“I will then continue to press for such improvements.”

Sir Oliver is not the only one to have expressed concerns about the road. Nick White, from Barley, said he has contacted Cambs County Council with concerns several times.

He said: “I’m concerned about the Flint Cross and Melbourn junctions, both are dangerous given the weight of traffic and the speeds involved.”

And ‘Make the A505 Safer’ campaigner Lynsey Langdon, whose husband Greig fractured his spine in a crash in July, said: “Someone needs to be held accountable and something needs to be done.”

A spokesman for Cambs County Council said: “Road safety is a top priority for Cambridgeshire County Council and we are concerned to hear of any accidents.

“We have inspected the road to make sure the surface, signs and lines are correct and up to standard.

“As there is an ongoing police investigation it would be wrong of us to comment on what possible causes there could be for the latest accident but we work closely with the constabulary and if any appropriate action is needed we will take it.”

And a Herts County Council spokesman said: “We are currently collecting data on the speed and number of vehicles using the road, which will help us to establish the best way to improve safety. In the meantime, we have renewed the road markings and cut back vegetation to improve sight at junctions.”