At around 7:10 yesterday evening – Sunday 19 July – a motorcyclist was killed when he collided with a vehicle at the junction of the A4 and The Avenue (B4003) at West Kennett. This is a notorious stretch of road with many fatal accidents in the relatively short distance between Marlborough and Beckhampton. And many calls – pleas – from residents, Parish and Local Authority Councillors and others involved in Road Safety to do something. But all of this – despite assurances – appears to be falling on deaf ears.
Every fatal accident costs. In excess of £2m. It’s almost as if somewhere, on some spreadsheet there is a ‘line of a budget’ for fatal accidents between Marlborough and Beckhampton. They happen, but nothing gets done to stop or lessen the chance of the next one. A preposterous thought and obviously never the case, but there has been loud clamour for well over a decade for this to be addressed. It’s not new. But ironically the cost of ‘doing something’ is but a fraction of the financial cost of just one fatal accident. And this ignores the human cost, to which there could never be any financial estimate, it’s on a different and emotional scale.
Yesterday’s tragic accident was the fifth fatality in this stretch of road within three years. Why hasn’t any action been taken to reduce speed or introduce some other measures that will likely reduce the number of accidents on this section of the A4? To cut down on the emotional catastrophes that each tragedy brings, and make life – for residents and travellers – safer.
A good question, answers are always couched with ‘if’s and other words aimed to offset responsibility, meaning that the proverbial nettle is never grasped and the can gets kicked yet further down the road.
The cost of every such accident is massive. In two respects: the emotional tragedy, the human cost and loss of loved ones can never be underestimated. This is what could affect and hurt any of us, were someone close involved in such an accident. The other respect is financial. At a recent seminar, Inspector Ben Huggins of Wiltshire Police was quoted as mentioning that the figure per fatal accident was (£2,834,336). A very ‘precise’ figure but one emerging from calculations embracing all elements in involved when such a tragedy occurs.
What should be done? Speed restriction is high on the list but go back even to 2015 when traffic management consultatnts Atkins – produced a paper ‘Avebury World Heritage Site – Transport Strategy’, to ‘provide a holistic approach to managing the negative impacts of roads and traffic in the World Heritage Site and maximising the ease and enjoyment with which visitors and local people can explore this magnificent landscape’. And that includes the area around West Kennett and beyond.
Marlborough West Wiltshire Councillor Jane Davies, long active in campaigning for action regarding this stretch of road told marlborough.news “It is heartbreaking to hear of yet another fatality on this stretch of road. Locally we have been asking for action to improve safety on this road for far too long now. The delays need to stop! Wiltshire Council Highways need to put improved road safety measures in place as soon as they possibly can. Before anyone else is killed or injured. Further delay is unacceptable.“
Where will the money come from? Where does the money to deal with the aftermath of every accident come from? The answer to the first question is Wiltshire Council – mainly, but answer to the second is far wider involving Wiltshire Council, Police, Ambulance services, NHS, and many more agencies. But ultimately the costs associated with both improving the safety on this road, and of dealing with each and every fatal accidents comes down to us – the taxpayer. The cost lands in our pockets.
Marlborough.news has covered this issue on many occasions – see here the piece from last March. We will continue to do so, but we would like to cover the details of an approved plan which addresses safety on this stretch of road. That would almost be a ‘good news’ story…….
Ken White exhibition at The Little Gallery
