Multiple crashes at B4042 junction in Wiltshire spark fear

One local, who wished to remain anonymous, says she has witnessed multiple crashes at the junction between the B4042 and The Street, near Lea, during the four years she has lived in the area.

Most recently, two smashes took place in the space of just three days at the end of February, while a van had previously collided with bollards at the front of the family’s property.

The repeated incidents at the junction have left this resident fearing for the safety of her family and others.

She said: “We’ve had a van come through the front of our drive and take the front of our property out… my daughter and I were walking there just minutes before and could've been taken out.

“It’s absolutely frightening, my children are panicking that when they go outside to get in the car something will hit them.

“My concern is someone will be seriously hurt, and I don’t want my children to witness that.”

A crash at the B4042 junction in Wiltshire (Image: Public contribution)

Other residents have raised concerns about the safety of the junction, located between Malmesbury and the M4, multiple times over the years.

Last year the council installed warning signs to prevent motorists from approaching the junction too fast.

But the anonymous mother says drivers still travel at “dangerous” speeds near the junction, while a lack of visibility when joining the B4042 reportedly adds to the risk of collisions.

She added: “I live a few feet away from the junction, nobody cares that it’s a 40mph and people just speed past making it very dangerous, they go at about 90mph.

“When you’re coming out of Lea you look left and right and by the time you’ve looked something has appeared from the other way because nothing is slowing them down enough.

“The speed limit needs to be lowered.”

A crash at the B4042 junction in Wiltshire (Image: Public contribution)

The council has advised residents who are concerned about road safety to contact the Local Highways and Footways Improvement Group.

Cllr Caroline Thomas, cabinet member for transport, said: “Following a request made to the LHFIG, warning signs, directional signs, and enhanced ‘slow’ markings were installed at the junction of the B4042 and The Street, near Lea in 2023.

“If local residents are still concerned about the safety of the junction, they should contact the parish council who can decide whether to take their concerns back to the LHFIG to investigate the possibility of further improvements at the junction.”