South Leicestershire MP, Alberto Costa, is to meet with the Midlands Regional Director of National Highways (formerly Highways England) later this week to discuss safety concerns over the A5 following a recent fatal collision at the High Cross junction.
The meeting comes following a fatal collision on Friday 5th November in which a person was killed at the High Cross junction on the A5 near Claybrooke Magna.
Alberto had previously been successful in lobbying National Highways to look into local concerns at the High Cross and Smockington Hollow junctions, and £3 million was invested in road safety improvements, however the MP will be asking highways bosses to assess how effective the improvements have been and will ask for further measures to be considered.
Alberto said, “I was terribly sorry to hear of the recent collision at the High Cross junction just a few weeks ago in which a person tragically lost their life. Despite a very welcome £3 million investment in new safety measures, National Highways need to investigate just how effective these have been. It is clearly unacceptable that this stretch of the A5 in South Leicestershire, notably at the High Cross and Smockington Hollow junctions, continue to be blackspots for accidents. I need to be assured that my constituents and other road users are safe when using this stretch of road”.
Harborough District and Leicestershire County Councillor, Rosita Page, added, “I am confident that our MP, Alberto, will hold National Highways to account in order to ensure proper scrutiny of the South Leicestershire stretch of the A5, and to secure effective safety measures and road improvements”.
Alberto concluded, “I absolutely share my constituent’s and other road users’ concerns about this stretch of the A5, and quite agree that effective action has to be taken to improve safety for all. I will be asking National Highways to consider a range of new safety measures, be that in the form of a new roundabout, average speed cameras or a new road layout. Local people have to feel safe when using local roads, so I would like to see National Highways considering all options in making effective improvements for all concerned”.
