Road safety campaigners look forward to seeing a dramatic drop in the number of casualties on the A605 road between Oundle and Thrapston, with the construction of a roundabout to slow down traffic at the Lilford-Clopton crossroads. Between 1997 and 1999 there were 60 accidents on the seven-mile stretch of road that involved one or more casualties. Leader of East Northamptonshire Council John Richardson drew attention to the appalling road safety record of the A605 in a meeting with Phil Hope MP and the Minister of Transport. “Tragically, seven people were killed in 1999 in four fatal crashes. In the year 2000 a further eight serious and seven slight accidents were reported, and in 2001, seven serious and seven slight accidents were recorded.”

Last year only two slight accidents were reported on this stretch of the A605. “Drivers are beginning to think about the dangers,” commented Northamptonshire County Councillor’s Road Safety officer John Shortland. He told the Chronicle that the County Council’s designers are currently designing a new roundabout for the Barnwell turn, which should reduce accidents still further.