Road closures as safety improvements to be made at Cheshire junction

Andrew Fielding was travelling to a football match with friends, having collected his exam results from Wirral Met that morning, when he was killed in a collision on the A540 Chester High Road, approaching Neston at the junction with Raby Park Road. The driver of the other car did not stop and was never found.

His mother Pauline Fielding was a tireless campaigner for road safety and was recognised with a commendation from Merseyside Police, and an MBE. She sadly passed away in April last year.

Speaking about the A540 road, Pauline had said: “We had always known it was a dangerous junction. We always went a long way round because we knew it was too dangerous coming from Neston High School or the recreation centre.

“After Andrew's death, we thought we need to do something to make it safer.”

Pauline campaigned for changes at the A540 junction and after five years, she successfully managed to get the speed limit on the road reduced from 60mph to 40mph.

Further along the junction, on the dual carriageway, the speed limit was 70mph, and it was reduced to 60mph.

However, in October 2023, there were still three collisions at the junction within a three-week period which resulted in significant injuries.

Now further improvements at the junction are about to get under way from Monday, March 4, with trees blocking drivers' sight to be removed.

Pauline Fielding was made an MBE in January 2022, collecting the honour from Prince William at Windsor Castle. Left, her son Andrew. (Image: Roadpeace)

Cheshire West and Chester Council's deputy leader and cabinet member for environment, highways and strategic transport, Cllr Karen Shore, said the improvements were "much-anticipated", but had required land purchases to be completed before tree felling could take place.

During the first week, smaller trees and undergrowth will be removed within the wooded area alongside the site. Then the following week (11 March) will see the removal of larger trees, which will involve some temporary traffic management.

Replacement trees will be planted, at a ratio of three trees for every one removed, at various local locations, to compensate for this loss. Chippings from the felled trees will also be recycled for use locally such as on play areas and local pathways.

Work will be carried out between the hours of 9.05am and 2.30pm.

There will be road closures on Raby Park Road and Upper Raby Park Road during these off-peak hours, together with temporary traffic lights on the A540 Chester High Road.

These works have been co-ordinated with the upgrade of the traffic lights at the Hinderton Road junction. The current lights are at the end of their life span and in urgent need of replacement. They are also planned to start on March 4 and will be ongoing for four weeks requiring a full road closure of Quarry Road and the remainder of the junction will be set under temporary three-way traffic lights.

Traffic will be monitored especially during times where Raby Park Road junction is also under temporary traffic signals. This upgrade of Hinderton Road junction is needed before the improvement works at Raby Park Road can begin.

Immediately following the tree removal works at A540 Raby Park Road junction, there will be setting out and fencing works, United Utilities diversion works are also aimed for early April.

Cllr Shore added: “The council has worked closely with A54Zero, the group that has previously campaigned for safety measures at the junction to develop this scheme. It includes widening of the junction, the inclusion of traffic lights as well as crossings for pedestrians and cyclists.

“Future works through the summer will involve further utilities diversion works which will then enable the main construction programme of works to start later in the year.

“We will provide updates on our website as the scheme progresses.”

Phil Lloyd, chair of the A54Zero Group, previously said:"We were delighted to meet with council officers and see the impressive progress on improvements to this dangerous junction.

"The group was saddened at the death of Pauline Fielding MBE and sorry that she did not live to see the scheme finished.

"But we know that she would have been happy to see the progress that has been made and would have joined us in thanking the councillors and officers for their efforts to complete the task as soon as possible and prevent further casualties at the junction."