Local campaigner Jesse Norman has criticised a new report by the Highways Agency into the safety of the A49 as "partial and inadequate".

The report was produced in response to Cllr Richard Smith, who described widespread public concern about road safety on the A49. This focussed in particular on the area between Much Birch and Ross-on-Wye.

There is only a single carriageway along this stretch, with just two or three sections where a driver might consider overtaking in relative safety. Yet the road carries a lot of traffic ranging from local residents to fast drivers who do not know the road well. These are interspersed with many heavy lorries, and also slow-moving tractors pulling trailers and farm machinery.

However, Jesse Norman has described "several clear flaws" in the new report. He said:?"It covers turning accidents, but not accidents from crossing or overtaking. It is limited to the period from January 1st, 2002 to December 31st, 2006, and so includes no data from 2007 and 2008. Yet there have been three fatal accidents recently on this stretch of road. It is also notable that of the eight principal junctions on the A49 south of Much Birch, only two have no history of a collision.

"The report is also inconsistent. It proposes improvements for the junction of the A49 and A4137 below Harewood End (four slight accidents) but none at all on two crossroads and one junction where recent fatalities have occurred: the A49/C1262 at Cross Collar, Llandinabo; the A49/C1234 south of Harewood End; and the A49/B4348 junction.

"The A49/C1234 junction is of particular concern. The Highways Agency report describes it as a 'farm track', but is in fact a public highway. It is on an open and straight road with good visibility and a downward slope which is much used for overtaking. Local residents have reported hundreds of near misses. Yet it has been ignored."

Jesse Norman added: "This report is both partial and inadequate. It does not go nearly far enough in addressing residents' concerns about safety. The junction with the C1234 south of Harewood End is a particular worry. It is only a matter of time before there is a very serious accident there."