A councillor hopes pressure on highways authorities will make the notorious A35 Miles Cross junction safer.

Town and district councillor David Tett says that over the years the Highways Agency has “fobbed off” demands for safety measures on the stretch of road near Symond-sbury which has been the scene of numerous accidents.

Coun Tett will tomorrow ask members of the Bridport Highways and Transportation sub-committee to support his call to bring back the A35 Initiative group and arrange a public meeting.

Coun Tett wants to involve all parish councils which border the stretch of road and put pressure on the Highways Agency to install a roundabout or traffic lights at Miles Cross, where West Road joins the busy A35.

He said: “Around the year 2000 the A35 Initiative, chair-ed by MP Oliver Letwin, was set up to consider improvements from Monkeys Jump in Dorchester to Honiton, particularly Miles Cross.

“Despite numerous imp-rovements and a speed limit reduction at Miles Cross, the problems remain and a solution has to be found.

“This is a very fast stretch of the A35 and the junction was badly planned and designed.

Even to an adv-anced motorist it is dangerous and confusing to manoeuvre on to, or off, the A35.

“This has caused many serious accidents.

“On each occasion the Highways Agency has fobbed one off and failed to install a device to combat the problem.”

West Road resident Sue Kane, who keeps a photographic record of incidents, supports Coun Tett’s efforts. She said: “I’ve seen enough accidents here for a lifetime”.

A Highways Agency spokesman said: “Safety is our top priority when making decisions about our network.

“The safety records of all Agency roads are routinely analysed and proposals for safety improvements brought forward on the basis of highest priority and where maximum benefit can be achieved. “We currently have no improvements planned. We will continue to monitor the situation.”

Coun Tett says over the past 20-plus years, since the road opened, there has been on average six serious accidents each year with 10 fatalities and two serious injuries, as well as countless less serious.