AN accident blackspot outside a small Oxfordshire village is a ‘ticking time bomb’ dubs a woman who is scared someone will be hurt.

Clare Watts, who was born and raised in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, uses the A4130 road between Didcot and Wallingford every day.

The 37-year-old, who now lives in Cholsey, works at her family-run landscape and gardening business off the road and is concerned about the ‘speeds, overgrown shrubbery and lack of signage’.

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Several deaths have occurred on the road across the years including 19-year-old Shane Vaughan on Christmas Day 2006, a woman in her 60s in 2014 and a man in his 80s in 2017.

More recently, a seven-year-old boy was left fighting for his life after being knocked off his scooter.

Mrs Watts, who frequently rides her horse along the road, said Oxfordshire County Council, the highways authority, need to address the issues before ‘someone is hurt or injured’.

She said: “It is now the main road between Wallingford and Didcot but there are no provisions for it, no maintenance of the overgrowth, no signs along the road.

“You would struggle to count how many turnings there are along the road but there are no signs for them.

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“They only have one sign on the way to Wallingford warning of horse riders but there isn’t one on the other side.

“There are two bridlepaths, and we are expected to cross a 50mph road where people are driving 60mph or above – people have no patience and the whole speed needs reducing.

“It really is an uphill battle which is something that is part of my council tax and should be sorted.

“I’ve even offered to cover the cost of doing the maintenance myself, that’s how desperate I am. I’ve offered to do a site walk with them on my horse so they can see the issues.

“I don’t feel like anything is going to happen until someone is injured. I was hoping to raise awareness of it because I’m scared I’m going to be hurt.”

Councillor Dr Pete Sudbury, who represents Wallingford on the county council, said he is aware of the concerns and has been working on Vision Zero, a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all.

He said: “I completely agree with Clare and I’ve taken it up with officers and we will get it done. I’ve always thought this is a bad piece of road.”

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Dr Sudbury successful campaigned for a public crossing to be installed near the village which is currently in the design stages.

Oxfordshire County Council has been asked to comment.

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Read more from this author

This story was written by Gee Harland. She joined the team in 2022 as a senior multimedia reporter.

Gee covers Wallingford, Wantage and Didcot.

Get in touch with her by emailing: Gee.harland@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @Geeharland

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