Black Dog Crossroads crashes sparks new speed limit calls

The safety of Black Dog Crossroads, on the edge of West Lavington, has been the subject of fierce debate for several years and the junction was named the seventh most dangerous in the county by a 2020 study.

Further concerns have been raised in recent weeks after a number of incidents in the area.

Police were called to a two-vehicle smash on August 14 in which the occupants of both escaped any serious injury.

Paramedics were then pictured at the scene following another two-car incident near the junction eleven days later.

A man in his 50s was taken to hospital with serious but not life-changing inuries.

A previous crash at the junction (Image: Wiltshire Times)

Following these collisions, Councillor Dominic Muns, the Wiltshire Council representative for The Lavingtons, emphasised that he and parish councillors are pushing for a reduction of the A360 speed limit to 40mph.

He said: “It is certainly recognised locally as a problem junction, and it needs attention, some residents actually travel miles to avoid it because they’re so worried.

“Speed is an important factor because it makes it very difficult to safely pull out onto the road and people pull out in front of traffic on the A360.

“I’m convinced reducing the speed would have a positive impact on the accident rate… that’s what we’re pushing for as parish councils.”

Cllr Muns added he has been working with highway officers and the police to campaign for a speed limit change.

Wiltshire Council told this paper they remain focused on realigning the junction, a policy that parish councillors have supported, once they have struck a deal with affected landowners.

A previous crash at the junction (Image: Michael Maxwell)

Cllr Caroline Thomas, cabinet member for transport, said: “Following discussions with local councillors and the local parish councils, it has been agreed that works to realign the junction at Black Dog crossroads near West Lavington will be the most appropriate form of improvement.

“Land purchase negotiations are currently underway to allow delivery of the agreed improvement.

“It is our aim that these works will be undertaken within six months following successful completion of the land acquisition.

“We will continue to monitor the location before and after completion of the improvements to assess the effectiveness.”

This policy has been met with anger from campaigners who are appealing for traffic lights to be installed.

While Cllr Muns admitted the wait for land purchases is “frustrating” he remains confident the correct improvements will be installed with the “right attention to detail.”