AN accident, which took place on a controversial mini-roundabout just one day after its installation, has sparked outrage from both residents and councillors. Two cars collided at the site of the new roundabout at the junction of Echo Barn Lane and Manley Bridge Road, Farnham, at 1 pm last Friday. The smash played into the hands of residents who campaigned against the installation of roundabouts at the three sites, claiming that they would lead to an increase, not a decrease, in traffic collisions. Dr Avril Capper, who lives near to the site of Friday's crash, labelled it "carnage" and "a perfect example" of why she was opposed to them originally. "The roundabouts are completely and utterly dangerous and we've had nothing but screeching brakes and near misses since they were installed," she said. "You just can't see properly and people shoot out and go into the side of each other, it's just carnage really. This accident wasn't small, it was quite a hard hit." Other residents and users of the road have complained that the roundabouts were difficult to see and that the original road markings had been left, adding to the confusion. Sian Fordham, a Bordon resident who chooses to travel along Echo Barn Lane rather than add to the congestion of Wrecclesham Road, said the roundabouts were "ridiculous" and "very badly designed". She said: "They are really badly marked on the road. You can clearly see the old road markings showing through and I'm surprised there haven't been more accidents already along that stretch. "Nobody knows that they're there, which is understandable because the roundabouts are new but the signs telling you that they're coming up are placed practically next to them when it's too late to react. They are very badly designed and a nightmare to use." A spokesman for Surrey County Council recognised the problem and said that the issue of the road markings was being looked into. He said: "We can confirm that the road markings which were due to be removed were instead painted with a special black paint which covers them up until they can be burned away. "This is standard practice and once this is done they are burned off or dug out and the road resurfaced. We're currently looking into claims that they were still visible." Plans for three mini-roundabouts on Shortheath Road and Echo Barn Lane first came to light as a response to the high accident record of the B3384. An average of 4.8 personal injury accidents (PIAs) occurred each year between 1998 and 2004 and mini-roundabouts were seen by councillors as the only viable means of traffic calming. Despite protests from angered residents, the motion to build the roundabouts was given the go ahead in July, with councillors defending their decision as "the right thing to do". David Munro, Surrey county councillor for Farnham South, expressed his outrage this week with the way council contractors carried out the work. "The Manley Bridge roundabout was only put in on Thursday but I'm afraid the execution has been appalling," he said. "It's completely inadequate. I drove down there myself on Friday and I was confused by the markings on the road." As one of the councillors who helped to push through the proposals in July, Mr Munro said that he had written a "strong letter" to Steve Lee, Surrey's head of transportation. "What are our contractors playing at?" he fumed. "During construction it's the responsibility of those working at the site to make sure that it's safe. I really don't blame residents at all for being as disgusted as I am." He went on to say that weather permitting, the mini-roundabouts would be completed as soon as possible. He still stands by his original decision that they would help in reducing traffic speeds and congestion. "I'm already getting compliments that they are making life easier but unfortunately one accident is one too many." Pat Frost, Surrey county councillor for central Farnham and Waverley Borough Councillor for Farnham, Rowledge and Wrecclesham, was a keen supporter of the roundabouts and echoed Mr Munro's comments. "These roundabouts are part of the safety management scheme along that road and it's very unfortunate that one of them wasn't completed," she said. She praised Surrey Highways for acting quickly after being alerted by herself and Mr Munro but said that "it should have been finished properly in the first place". "We have done something about it and hopefully all will be well from now on."
