Danger bend concern

AN accident blackspot has claimed another two vehicles this month — and a former councillor suspects the road surface may be to blame.

John Anchor, who lives in Moorside, uses Ripponden Road every day to get to Huddersfield University where he works.

When he was an Alexandra Ward councillor in 2007, Mr Anchor called for road improvements and a speed limit reduction after a fatal accident and two serious crashes which left victims with spinal and abdominal injuries.

The danger stretch is near Besom Hill brickworks — a sweeping bend in a 40mph zone.

On Wednesday morning last week, a man lost control of his Jaguar and crashed. Only 12 hours earlier, police were called to a three-car smash on the same stretch. Both crashes were witnessed by Mr Anchor.

He said: “The council has undertaken some considerable improvements — signage on the road, chevrons and lighting was improved. Despite this however, we seem to be having continuous problems.

“On May 5, I narrowly missed a fatal incident involving a motorbike and car in a head-on collision. The next morning there was another accident.

“In June, a 4x4 went off the road in bad weather and overturned. Passengers were lucky to escape with their lives.

“I came home last night and there was another accident . . . this morning as I went to work at ten-past-seven, yet another.

“This is happening so frequently. The problem is possibly the surface of the road.

“I will be writing to the council as a local resident because of my concerns.”