Calls for road safety action after accident on '˜dangerous' blind bend at Midhurst

Fay Fearon who is leading the safety call said she has long been concerned about the danger spot, but decided it was time to take action after the recent accident when a driver’s car was written off and he was treated in hospital for slight injuries.

“I would feel terrible if I did absolutely nothing and there was a serious accident,” she told the Observer.

Mrs Fearon and many other residents living in The Fairway and surrounding roads are concerned about cars parked on the road as it goes uphill on a blind bend.

The danger spot is shortly after the T junction with The Bourne and close to two blocks of flats. They are also concerned that there are two bus stops on the bend which add to the danger.

They are calling for double yellow lines on the section of road to stop cars parking.

“When the cars are parked there you have to drive on the wrong side of the road to get up the hill and it’s a blind bend. If something is coming the other way, there is no way of escaping. There is nowhere to go apart from the bushes and the lake on one side or hitting the parked cars on the other. There is a regular half hourly bus service in both directions on the road and so you very often meet a bus on the bend.

“It is particularly hazardous with the bus stops on the bend.

“It’s so dangerous on that piece of road that someone is going to get killed or badly hurt.”

She said residents had contacted West Sussex County Council’s highways department both before and after the recent accident.

“We have been told the parked cars act as traffic calming to slow people down and nothing will be done to improve safety unless there is a serious accident.

“Recently the accident was caused when a resident was going down the hill and got to the bend and was confronted with a bus coming up. He braked hard, but hit the front of the bus.”

She and fellow residents would be visiting homes in the area asking for support for their petition calling for safety measures.

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