Plans to revamp New Forest crossroads blackspot go before NPA

PLANS to reconfigure a dangerous New Forest junction are set to be decided by the national park authority.

Hampshire County Council has applied for planning permission to realign a section of highway at Ipley crossroads near Beaulieu, which has been the scene of two fatal accidents in recent years.

Under the plans, a new section of carriageway on the approach of the C97 from the west would join the Beaulieu Road at an angle of 90 degrees 50 metres south of the current crossroads.

HCC aims to complete the £450,000 project before the ground-nesting bird season begins in March.

The meeting point of the C63 Beaulieu Road and the C97 at Ipley crossroads has become a major New Forest accident hotspot with two fatalities and 11 serious-injury accidents reported between January 2011 and August 2019.

The proposed new layout, involving a T-junction for traffic travelling east or west on the C97, would force traffic to slow down and give way in order to join Beaulieu Road.

Once completed the effectiveness of the project will be monitored for five years.

So far seven members of the public have commented in support of the scheme, describing the current road layout as extremely dangerous to cyclists.

One wrote: “It’s always a nervous experience for me when approaching this junction while cycling to/from Beaulieu as many drivers appear only to take a cursory view of the traffic when crossing the junction.

“A friend of mine sadly died at the junction. A needless loss of a life.”

As part of the scheme, an area of grassland will also be returned to grazing at Wilverley Cross in a land swap deal negotiated with Forestry England and supported by the verderers.

The public have until 16th December to comment on the plans.