CALLS have been made for urgent safety improvements to the Ferndown bypass in the wake of several fatal accidents along the busy route.

Town chiefs say hatched markings are needed along the centre of the road between the Dolmans Crossing roundabout, near the police headquarters, and Canford Bottom roundabout.

In September this year, 19-year-old student Alex Diplock was killed after the car he was travelling in was involved in a collision with a van close to the Uddens Drive turning.

And in October a 46-year-old Ringwood motorcyclist died when his Triumph motorbike was in a collision with a lorry at the Palmersford roundabout.

Last year, hatched markings were installed along the Wimborne bypass following a spate of accidents, and campaigners say the number of crashes has dropped as a result.

Ferndown town councillor Mike Parkes, who is a retained fireman, told the Daily Echo: "From my personal knowledge of attending accidents along these roads, the markings have considerably reduced the accident rate on the Wimborne bypass and I feel they would be beneficial on the Ferndown stretch of road.

"You can come all the way from London on motorway and dual carriageway before hitting the single carriageway, and many drivers get impatient and try to overtake."

The town council has written to the Highways Agency requesting centre markings for the bypass.

A Highways Agency spokeswoman said it would be looking into the council's concerns.

And she added: "There are hatchings for about half a mile from where the dual carriageway turns into a single carriageway but we will always consider requests for improvements."

First published: December 22