Urgent appeals for safety works after latest Bective Cross crash

It is only a matter of time before somebody is killed at Bective Cross, according to extremely worried local residents.

Following yet another collision recently, the community is again appealing for safety works at the crossroads, which has been the scene of numerous accidents over the years and regular near misses.

David Smith, who runs Crocketts Pub, the scene of a very serious collision several years ago, warned there will be a fatal accident there if something isn't done.

"Every time we hear the bang we think 'Oh God what are we going to find'. It is a real danger to all drivers and to people living here.

"We are fed up contacting the council. Nothing is ever done, They did a great job up at Swans of Skryne, and in Rathmolyon, but we still have this very dangerous situation here. If you just sat outside for 20 minutes you would see the amount of near misses. There are several near misses every day.

"People who don't know the road, don't know which road has priority and the stop sign is covered in brambles.

"There are several accidents here every year. Last Tuesday there was a collision between two cars. Luckily nobody was seriously hurt, but it was frightening."

He recalled an incident several years ago when a vehicle ploughed through the gates of the pub yard following a collision with a van on the junction, causing three men that were in the yard to jump out of its way. "It was luck that nobody was killed or seriously injured.

"This cross has been an accident blackspot for too long and I'm sure many people have stories about near misses and close calls at this junction. "Does somebody have to be killed for action to be taken?.”

Fionnuala Jones, whose son was involved in a recent accident, lives about a mile away from the cross. She said her family passes through that junction five or six times a day and the amount of times cars had pulled out in front of them is unbelievable.

"People coming from the Tara Na Ri direction, who don't know the road, just drive straight through the junction without giving way. The amount of people who don't realise there is a stop sign there is frightening.

"We try to avoid going through that junction at all costs and if we have to, we always slow down. I am terrified of what could happen there. There should be clearer markings and proper road signs. There shouldn’t be a price on a life. This work should be done.

"There have been so many crashes and near misses there. What would happen if children were getting off the school bus there when a collision occurred?

“I was driving behind a bus one day and a car just drove right out in front of him. Luckily there wasn't a collision, but everyone is afraid something dreadful will happen there one day.”

Deputy Johnny Guirke said he had raised this issue years ago and it was very concerning that nothing has been done to improve safety at the junction since.

Meath County Council has been approached for comment.