FOLLOWING on from recent road traffic incidents, two further crashes closed roads in the area over the past few days.

On Saturday the air ambulance was called to take a man in his 40s to hospital from a crash at the Mireystock crossroads above Lydbrook. The incident occurred at the junction of the A4136 and the B4234, when three cars were involved, and the whole area suffered multiple road closures for many hours as the police investigated the incident, and contractors removed the stricken vehicles. One car was said to have ended up on the top of another car.

The man was said to have suffered serious head injuries, but he is said to have recovered after treatment at Bristol's Frenchay Hospital.

Six months ago, in May, a pedestrian was killed on the same stretch of road after being hit by a BMW – bringing calls for the speed limit and signage on the road to be reviewed.

The A4136 road runs steeply from both directions down to the staggered crossroads at Mireystock, which local opinion suggests is a contributing factor to the ongoing series of incidents that the crossroads have suffered.

A Review reader from Upper Lydbrook, who did not wish to be named, commented: "Mireystock has been a dangerous crossroads for many years now, and it must be the combination of the steepness of the hills that run down to the crossroads, and the fact that it is staggered, which is causing so many accidents. There is an issue with people trying to 'dib across' the junction in front of cars and trucks coming along the main road. You can watch a near miss down there most days."

Suggestions to improve road safety on the accident ridden crossroads include 'straightening out' the staggered nature of the crossing, putting in traffic calming measures, or even installing traffic lights or a roundabout.

Meanwhile, on Monday (November 4) an incident occurred at around 9.50pm on the A48 at Minsterworth, when a John Deere tractor driven by a 44 year old man from Deerhurst, and a Renault Clio driven by a 21 year old woman from Westbury on Severn collided.

The woman was taken to Frenchay Hospital where she was kept overnight and treated for cuts and bruises. The driver of the tractor was said to be unhurt.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the Minsterworth incident, which happened at the junction for Northwood Green. The road was closed until 11.50pm while the emergency services attended the scene, then recovered the vehicles.

Anyone who has not yet spoken to police about the collision is asked to phone 101, quoting incident number 526 of November 4.