ON February 5 Beaconsfield was almost at a standstill due to an accident at the Maxwell Road and Amersham Road junction, which closed the A355.

It was one of many accidents there, albeit none as serious. I think it's one of the most dangerous in the town. My reasons for believing this are as follows:

The speed limit on the A355 is 50mph which does not allow enough time for vehicles to pull out and turn right safely from Maxwell Road, Hyde Green and Waller Road.

There is no clear view of traffic approaching from Amersham due to an incline approaching the bridge prior to Maxwell Road.

Maxwell Road is one of the busiest with a large supermarket, shops, cafe bar, school, recreation centre, housing estate and numerous private homes all in less than a mile.

It is on a four route bus service and used by lots of lorries some huge making deliveries. Their number in Maxwell Road has increased significantly since sleeping policeman were put in Ledborough Lane.

The A355 speed limit should be reduced to 30mph from the mini roundabout at Wilton Park to just after the staggered road junction at Ledborough Lane and Long Bottom Lane which is another black spot. Cameras should be installed. It seems to work in other stretches of the A355 between Hedgerley Corner and Farnham Road where the highest limit is 40mph.

A further improvement would be a mini-roundabout at the Maxwell Road junction.

I have lived here for 30 years and seen traffic increase from a busy road to the nightmare of calming chicanes, give-way arrows, which some motorists feel they should run the gauntlet for right of way, and marked parking bays.

When used, if a bus meets another bus or lorry coming in the opposite direction they only have two inches to spare.

At times volume of traffic makes it impossible to get in and out of driveways.

I have advised Bucks County Council Highways Department of my fears only to be told that traffic surveys are held periodically and action is or is not taken according to results.

They said speed limits would only be reviewed if people are injured in the traffic incidents.

A Blackburn

Maxwell Road

Beaconsfield

February 15, 2002 11:00