CONCERNED residents in Locking are calling for a road to close as they fear it is only a matter of time before an accident happens .

CONCERNED residents in Locking are calling for a road to close as they fear it is only a matter of time before an accident happens’.

Members of the village’s Local Action Team (LAT) say an entrance on Locking Moor Road, into the former RAF Locking site, is unsafe as there are no road markings or signs indicating its presence.

LAT secretary Gordon Davey said: “It is a very fast road and there have been a couple of accidents there in the past. The entrance nearest the motorway bridge is neither marked nor signposted and it is only a matter of time before an accident happens.”

The LAT has written to North Somerset Council seeking road markings to make drivers aware of the entrance and to police to highlight the problem.

The group has also written to Annington Plc, which is responsible for the entrance and maintenance on the Flowerdown Estate asking for it to be closed.

The estate is on the former airbase which is due to be transformed into an employment led mixed-use regeneration site for hi-tech businesses.

Councillor Elfan Ap Rees, who represents Locking and is responsible for highways at North Somerset, said: “We have made it quite clear that it is a private entrance and not our responsibility. Our view is that the entrance should be closed.

“Annington Plc is ignoring it, which is very foolish, and it will be responsible if there are any accidents.

“There is another bigger entrance with proper turning lanes which residents can use if they choose.

“The company reopened the entrance several years ago against our advice.

“Our concern is that if we were to encourage people to use it then the council will become liable. Therefore we do not recognise it as a proper entrance.

“My view is that you cannot make that entrance safe so it should be closed.”

The Weston & Somerset Mercury tried to contact Annington Plc on Monday but there was no answer from its offices.