A major safety improvement plan has been launched for a ‘rat run’ country road that has become an accident blackspot.

Walton Road in Wavendon was built decades ago as a narrow country throughfare to serve the village.

Its notorious double bend is not suited to high volumes of traffic but, over the years, the road has become a safety blackspot as more and more busy as drivers use it to by-pass bigger busy streets, roundabouts and grid roadsin Milton Keynes

This week more than 125 Wavendon residents packed into a public meeting in the village to hear a senior council Highways Officer Murray Woodburn set out further proposals to make the bend safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.

The narrow double bend has become a safety blackspot on Walton Road in Wavendon

placeholder image — The narrow double bend has become a safety blackspot on Walton Road in Wavendon

The four immediate suggestions are:

 Improved detection proposition with full coverage of properties on the bend

 Introduce new lower speed limit (TRO consultation needed)

 Explore Home Zone or Quiet Lane designation with DfT (shared space)

 New road and signage layout drawing, including new signage, road markings and any other measures considered appropriate, for informal consultation.

But Mr Woodburn also set out further wider-reaching plans that would take away the need for drivers to even consider ‘rat-running’ along this country lane.

These would involve major improvements to manage traffic more efficiently at nearby Kingston Roundabout on the A421, as well as extending the H10 Bletcham Way grid road to Newport Road in Wavendon and building a new Woburn Sands ‘by pass ‘crossing the railway at Woodleys Farm as part of the East West Rail (EWR) development.

The meeting was hostedWavendon Parish Council, whose Cllr David Hopkins said: ‘We welcome Mr Woodburn’s helpful update and proposed series of measures and look forward to seeing them all implemented as quickly as possible.

He added: "All that residents are united in wanting to see is a slowing of traffic, a disincentive for drivers to consider using the route and additional safety for mothers and children going to and from local schools and our local nursery".

The meeting offered Murray a vote of thanks for attending and for setting out his vision with clarity and good humour.