Calls for action over accident blackspot at Frocester Hill junction

Since January 2001, more than 30 accidents have been recorded on the B4066 junction with Frocester Hill near Nympsfield - which has been described as "dangerous" and "terrifying".

Nine of these accidents happened between November last and the start of January.

In November, a motorcyclist died after a collision along the B4066 further up from Frocester Hill near Gloucestershire Gliding Club.

Councillors from Nympsfield Parish Council said in a statement that 'it seems inevitable that more people will be seriously injured or killed at this junction unless comprehensive steps are taken'.

A similar warning came from Dursley resident Si Beisly, who was involved in an accident there 12 years ago.

"On the way back from the Stroud cinema in December 2011, I saw a car coming along the Cockadilly road at speed," he said.

"Next thing I knew, we were doing a 360 after they shot out the junction.

Dursley resident Si Beisly, was involved in an accident at the Frocester junction 12 years ago in December 2011 (Image: Si Beisly)

"That one week in December last year, we had three or four incidents, with cars lining the roadside. The recovery trucks couldn't take them away fast enough.

"My concern is that a life has not been lost there, yet. That's my concern, if action isn't taken, it will happen."

Meanwhile Dursley county councillor Wendy Thomas said the accidents were 'absolutely terrifying'.

"The whole area is a serious accident hotspot and it is absolutely terrifying," she said.

"These are some serious accidents and these cars are just plunging down the cliff.

A car overshoots Frocester Hill junction on November 11, 2022 leaving the road and descending down the steep embankment, flipping onto its side, only stopping after hitting a tree (Image: A Nympsfield resident)

"We want to find out exactly how many accidents there have been in the area and what was the situation."

GCC highways department has proposed an improvement plan, with proposals for rumble strips, slow road markings, and new signage.

However, Nympsfield Parish Council say the improvements do not go far enough.

They stated that Highways should consider reduced speed limits, traffic lights, a small roundabout, a stop sign and a crash barrier as part of their proposals, and that highways should work with residents.

"Upon examining the designs that were put forward by Highways, Nympsfield, Owlpen, Uley, and Frocester Parish Councils, have considered the improvement, and there is a clear consensus that the planned changes are not comprehensive enough," the council said.

Accident at the Frocester hill junction on December 21, 2022 (Image: Nympsfield resident)

"Only after a string of further incidents over the Christmas period, did highways inform us that they are now looking into whether a crash barrier is a viable option."

"It has become apparent that highways view the cost of more substantial changes, such as traffic lights and speed restrictions, as prohibitive.

"However, apart from the human cost, we ask highways to take into consideration the wider view of related costs to other services in the county including those of the emergency services attending over 30 accidents in two months.

A photo of an accident at the Frocester Hill junction in January 2019, in a previous SNJ story (Image: Jason Beresford-Barnes)

"Highways should recognise the severity of the situation and commit to involving all the local parish councils, making full use of relevant local knowledge at every stage of the planning process." 

Work is due to take place in April.

"The safety of our residents is our top priority," a GCC spokesperson said. 

"That is why we have developed safety improvements for this stretch of road which are due to take place in April.

"We are carefully reviewing the plans alongside police accident reports so that they take into account the latest incidents, as well as local concerns.

"We will be providing an update for residents once this process is complete."