THERE has been a call for action on a stretch of road labelled one of the most dangerous in the country.

Leader of Worcestershire County Council Adrian Hardman wants to see safety improvements made on a five-mile section of the A46 Evesham bypass, between Evesham and Beckford.

In his campaign for action, he has written to Patrick McLoughlin, the secretary of state for transport. Since July 2010, two fatal and seven serious accidents have taken place on this part of the A46.

Coun Hardman, who represents Bredon ward on the county council, said: “I have asked him to revisit the question of dual-carriageway, or improved safety measures on this section. I think this must be one of the most dangerous length of roads in the county if not the country, since on average we are having five people either killed or seriously injured every year on this five-mile stretch. We must act.

“This road is cutting Beckford in half and worrying all who live along it, or by it.”

Diana Burgess, aged 40, died in the most recent fatal incident on the road after her motorbike was involved in a collision with a car at the entrance to Bell Service Station near Ashton on October 16 last year.

The driver of the black Peugeot 308 car involved in the crash has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving and will appear at Worcester Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

In July 2010 two people were killed after a crash near the junction between the Sedgeberrow bypass section of the road and Cheltenham Road.

Hayley Nalepa, aged 23, and her passenger, 45-yearold Chris Ball, both from Longlevens, Gloucester, died at the scene.

Tracey Davies, who escaped serious injury after an accident between the Twyford roundabout and the B4035 last January says she would support a campaign to make the road safer, calling it a “death trap”.

She said: “It needs to be made ‘no overtaking’ in one direction all along the A46.

There are far too many accidents and too many people dying. It is such a fast road and people will overtake on the chevrons. The cars play chicken with each other.”

The hairdresser used to be visit her clients at their homes but has now got a salon. She said: “I am not driving any more and I refuse to go on that road. It is a year since the accident and it has damaged me. The A46 is a death trap.”