A142 "Danger" Road - Another Accident Today

30 November 2014, 09:06 | Updated: 30 November 2014, 09:13

A parish council and an MP's called for a road in the Fens to be more regularly cleaned after three accidents in a week.

Steve Barclay, the MP for North-East Cambridgeshire says he's backing Witcham Parish Council’s calls for road safety improvements.

Witcham Parish Council’s clerk Susan Bell says councillors are deeply concerned about the mud and maize on the road creating a greasy road surface and constant dirty windscreens which she says are particularly hazardous in the low sun conditions at this time of the year.

Mrs Bell wrote: "Last year we had the same problem and despite best efforts by the contractors to sweep and swill the road, conditions were frequently atrocious.  Councillors report that our local drivers are complaining about convoys of up to eight, or even more, agricultural vehicles and plant on the A142 anywhere between Ely and Chatteris, and this is causing frustration for other road users. We are advised that these agricultural vehicles and plant are being used to haul maize from a wide surrounding area to the local maize digesters."

TODAY (Sunday 30th)

The A142 Ely Road is CLOSED following a serious accident involving a motorcycle between B1381 Ely Road (Sutton Roundabout) and Block Fen Drove.

The accident happened just after 6am and at 9am, police say the road could be closed for some hours to come.

There's no word yet as to the cause of today's collision.

ON-GOING ISSUES

NFU Cambridgeshire County Chairman Bob Lawrence said it was essential that farmers took steps to minimise the impact of mud on the road. The NFU has worked with the police and local authorities to produce a code of best practice on keeping highways clean. Mr Lawrence is quoted as saying: "Farmers take road safety extremely seriously. No farmer wants to cause an accident and our members are doing everything practical to keep roads clear,” said Mr Lawrence.

We’ve reminded them of the steps they need to take in newsletters and our members’ magazine, and the issue is raised regularly at local NFU meetings as well."

The NFU advice includes:

• Do everything possible to prevent mud being deposited on the road. This includes cleaning mud from vehicles, as far as practicable, before they are taken onto the road.
• If there is a danger of mud being accidently deposited on roads, use ‘Slippery Road’ signs with a ‘Mud on Road’ sub plate to alert other road users. Check your local highways authority’s requirements for warning signs at the side of the road.
• Clean the road as necessary during the working day and always at the end of the working day.
• Ensure that labour and equipment is available and is suitable for the soil and weather conditions present.