Traffic fears at motorway services

8:20am Thursday 6th November 2008

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MOTORISTS using a back entrance to Michaelwood Services as a short cut to and from the northbound M5 motorway are putting lives at risk, it has been claimed.

Lisa Collinson moved into the family home in Woodford in May 2007 and since that time has noticed a dramatic increase in the amount of traffic using the country lane to access service station land.

She first wrote to the services in November 2007 to complain about traffic coming off the motorway and is frustrated that nothing has been done to deter the drivers.

"I am massively concerned about the speed and volume of traffic, and also aware that it is illegal to exit the motorway at a non-authorised exit," she said.

"It is an accident waiting to happen, as the exit road from Michaelwood is on a sharp corner, visibility is poor and traffic use the lane like a normal 60mph road.

"It was when I was forced to protect the life of my two-year-old nephew by pushing him out of the path of a speeding tanker and into the ditch that I knew I had to get something done."

Mrs Collinson, of Mule Street, added: "The only people that need to use that entrance are the emergency services and they could easily have access through a barrier – a barrier which I’ve even offered to pay for out of my own money."

Derek Burgess, chairman of Alkington Parish Council, agreed that heavy traffic was a problem on the lane.

He said: "It’s often discussed by the council but there is very little we can do to discourage it.

"It can be a dangerous road, especially as there is no footpath and the traffic is very fast."

John Roberts, stakeholder manager at Gloucestershire Highways, added: "We are aware of the problem and have looked into it. However, part of the road is a public highway and we cannot stop people using it.

"There is a legitimate access to the service station which is a private road and it is up to the service station to decide whether or not access should be controlled."

A spokesman for Welcome Break, owners of the service station, said: "Welcome Break will discuss the matter with Gloucestershire police with the aim of asking the police whether they would be willing to carry out random stops at the site, with the aim of preventing illegal traffic.

"We are aware of the situation and have been in contact with the Highways Agency concerning a width restriction at the site to stop the problem.

"However, the Highways Agency are not keen on this because the slip road is used by emergency vehicles and they need to have access."