GLOUCESTERSHIRE ECHO 20th August 2012
A LORRY has rolled off the road and into a field at the same spot as a fatal crash just two months ago. Residents living close to Alderton Garage claim it is the latest in a string of incidents during the past few weeks.
And they have hit out at highways bosses for failing to deal with the stretch of road, despite repeated pleas for action.
Howard Greening, who lives with his family at the garage run by his son Mark, saw the latest accident.
He said a seven tonne lorry skidded on the road and rolled into a nearby field.
"This has got beyond a joke," Mr Greening said.
"It is the fourth crash in the last four months.
"The lorry just aquaplaned off the road and into the field.
"It is getting more and more dangerous around here.
"We are all just dreading it every time a vehicle comes along this road.
"Something has to be done about the road, before someone else gets killed."
Teacher Julie Stodart-Cook died at the spot in May.
Her car left the B4077 and crashed into the forecourt of Alderton Garage, killing the 43-year-old and seriously injuring two workers.
Many of the village's residents have blamed a new road surface put down by contractors working for Gloucestershire County Council.
Alderton parish councillor Keith Page, who runs a bed and breakfast opposite the garage, said he was concerned that other areas in the county which had been resurfaced could pose a similar danger to drivers.
"It has been a catalogue of disaster since the road was resurfaced," he said.
"All the highways department will say is that they are monitoring the situation."
Residents formed Alderton Road Safety Group in June, following a public meeting about the road to help bring down the speed limit there. It is currently 60mph.
Members met with Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership, the police and Gloucestershire Highways and said at the time that there were positive ideas coming out of the group, including lines and signing, speed limits.
Highways manager for the area, Jenny Wilks, said the authority was keeping an eye on the problem. But she insisted that the council was not aware of the latest accident
She added: "We are working with the police and assisting in their investigation. We have not been made aware of an incident involving a lorry."
A LORRY has rolled off the road and into a field at the same spot as a fatal crash just two months ago. Residents living close to Alderton Garage claim it is the latest in a string of incidents during the past few weeks.
And they have hit out at highways bosses for failing to deal with the stretch of road, despite repeated pleas for action.
Howard Greening, who lives with his family at the garage run by his son Mark, saw the latest accident.
He said a seven tonne lorry skidded on the road and rolled into a nearby field.
"This has got beyond a joke," Mr Greening said.
"It is the fourth crash in the last four months.
"The lorry just aquaplaned off the road and into the field.
"It is getting more and more dangerous around here.
"We are all just dreading it every time a vehicle comes along this road.
"Something has to be done about the road, before someone else gets killed."
Teacher Julie Stodart-Cook died at the spot in May.
Her car left the B4077 and crashed into the forecourt of Alderton Garage, killing the 43-year-old and seriously injuring two workers.
Many of the village's residents have blamed a new road surface put down by contractors working for Gloucestershire County Council.
Alderton parish councillor Keith Page, who runs a bed and breakfast opposite the garage, said he was concerned that other areas in the county which had been resurfaced could pose a similar danger to drivers.
"It has been a catalogue of disaster since the road was resurfaced," he said.
"All the highways department will say is that they are monitoring the situation."
Residents formed Alderton Road Safety Group in June, following a public meeting about the road to help bring down the speed limit there. It is currently 60mph.
Members met with Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership, the police and Gloucestershire Highways and said at the time that there were positive ideas coming out of the group, including lines and signing, speed limits.
Highways manager for the area, Jenny Wilks, said the authority was keeping an eye on the problem. But she insisted that the council was not aware of the latest accident
She added: "We are working with the police and assisting in their investigation. We have not been made aware of an incident involving a lorry."