A campaign group has called for improvements to the dangerous Miles Cross junction at Bridport to be completed before construction work begins on the Foundry Lea housing development.

Advearse – first set up in 2013 to oppose the Foundry Lea development at Vearse Farm, west of Bridport – has written to developers, National Highways, Dorset Council and local MP Chris Loder expressing safety concerns over the Miles Cross junction.

The Miles Cross junction, near Symondsbury on the outskirts of Bridport, has a long history of accidents and near misses.

Advearse has welcomed the decision to improve the junction with a roundabout. Planning conditions of the 750-house Foundry Lea development state that no occupation is possible until the roundabout is completed, but construction can begin using an access road off the B3162 West Road

Concerns have been raised that 50 or 60 heavily-laden HGVs could be negotiating the junction a day before the roundabout is completed, along with other lighter construction construction vehicles when work on the housing development begins, resulting in 200-300 journeys a day.

A statement from Advearse said: "If some of these vehicles are attempting the manoeuvre coming from the east and turning right the risks of a serious accident will be very high.

"Those who use the junction regularly know that drivers are often confused about which direction has right of way.

"The dangers apply equally to busy holiday times as to the quiet times when vehicles speed down from Chideock."

Advearse has argued that constructing service roundabouts before work on major development sites is the norm across the country, but Dorset Council "appears to have agreed that the two schemes can run at the same time".

A spokesman for the group commented: "We have flagged up this issue for many years. We know that most local people are not aware about what is planned. We believe that commercial profit for the builders is being put ahead of public safety.

"Our primary request is that the roundabout be finished before the construction work starts. If that request goes unheeded, we request that west-bound construction traffic should not be allowed to turn right off the A35 into West Road.

"We urge local residents to contact the council and National Highways to express their concerns."

Advearse's letter adds: "The chaos and potential risks which will result which will result from this failure to plan properly for the road construction must be addressed.

"We ask that you collectively revisit the issue and engage with local people in the decision making."

You can find out more about Advearse and read the full letter at www.advearse.org.uk/miles-cross-roundabout-construction-traffic

With planning permission granted last year, Foundry Lea has been described by developers as "a new sustainable neighbourhood" at Vearse Farm, on the western fringe of Bridport, delivering up to 760 homes, a primary school, employment space, local retail and community facilities, as well as accessible open space.

Barratt David Wilson and Vistry Partnerships have joined forces to deliver the Foundry Lea development. They will be holding a drop-in at Bridport Town Hall on Wednesday, March 1, from 2pm to 7pm, for local people to attend and find out more about the planned development. 

You can also find out more here www.foundrylea.co.uk