I have received a second letter detailing road closures on the A49 for road improvements. The last was in November 2018.

The aim of the seven to eight-week road works, including some overnight closures is to facilitate “safe right turning” into the village of Ashford Bowdler.

In 15 years of using this stretch of road multiple times a day I have never witnessed an accident or near miss at this site.

That is not to say they have never happened.

However, the cost and inconvenience or these road works to facilitate “safe right turns” into a village of a population of less than 100 when there are at least two options if the lay-by is taken into consideration seems excessive.

Just a mile or so away is the Salwey junction of the A49 and A456/B4362 at which there have been several fatalities and serious injuries which the Hereford Times has reported on.

I question the soundness of a decision to spend scant resources on a road improvement scheme at Ashford Bowdler, perhaps you should too?

Who made the decision? Who benefits? What is the cost?

Paul Lewis Shepherd
Ashford Bowdler