Melton family appeal for accident blackspot to be made safer after collision

Amelia Ufton (24) was driving home to the town from her job in Nottingham along the A606 when her car was in collision, at the Broughton Hill crossroads, with a vehicle coming from the direction of Six Hills Lane.

She sustained a broken hand, an injury to her shoulder, whiplash and bruising to her collar bone and stomach but doctors who treated her at Queen’s Medical Centre said she was lucky to escape with much more serious injuries.

The family’s beloved cockapoo dog, Lily, who was travelling in the front passenger seat with her seatbelt on, was not injured despite the car being so badly damaged it has since been written off.

The Uftons have written to Leicestershire County Council highways and Melton’s MP, Edward Argar, pleading for something to be done at the junction to make it safer after hearing about at least two other collisions there just this month.

Amelia has been unable to return to work since the collision, which was at 6.40pm on Tuesday February 3.

She told the Melton Times: “I drive through there every day and it has always given me anxiety driving through that crossroads, even before my accident.

"I always have my foot hovering over the brake.

"It’s just not safe - it’s chaos 90 per cent of the time, especially at rush hour.

“There is often a car off the road or in the hedge when I drive past.

“I felt I needed to do something because you are always hearing about accidents on Broughton Hill.”

Recalling the collision, Amelia said the front of her car took the impact, spinning the vehicle around 360 degrees and causing her to hit her head on the side window,

She couldn’t get out of her driver’s side door so had to climb out through the passenger door and get Lily to safety.

Amelia called mum and dad, Marie and Chris, from the scene and they arrived to see the aftermath with lots of flashing lights from the emergency services.

Marie said: “It seems to us, that something needs to happen as a matter of urgency, whether it would be installing traffic lights or something like speed rumble strips.

"It is obvious that whatever measures are in place are not sufficient.

“We want to prevent other people going through a trauma like we have.

"Something has to be done to make that junction safer because it will happen again.”

MP Mr Argar has responded to the family say he has raised their safety concerns about Broughton Hill to the county council.

A spokesperson for Leicestershire County Council told the Melton Times: “We were very sorry to hear about the recent accident and injury at the A606 junction at Broughton Hill.

"We have been contacted by the family and will be responding directly.

“This location is already scheduled for further review this year as part of our casualty reduction programme, as incidents have continued despite our earlier improvements including a speed limit reduction to 50mph, upgraded signage and rumble strips.”