Concerns have been raised over delays to improving safety on a main road through Evesham.

The A46 has been the site of numerous serious and fatal crashes over recent years, prompting West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin to take action.

Nine months ago Mrs Baldwin met with parish councillors to discuss concerns, and began campaigning to introduce measures to reduce speeding along the road, including the installation of speed activated signs near the junction at Hinton Cross.

READ MORE: Major plan to improve key route through Evesham in bid to remove accident blackspots

However, since then no progress has been made and now Mrs Baldwin wants to speak with Nick Harris, chief executive of National Highways, to encourage him to accelerate the project as well as develop longer-term solutions.

The MP said: “The schools have returned and the nights are drawing in. Bad weather and darkness inevitably increases the risk of crashes.

“It is a busy and dangerous stretch of road and the local community is united in asking for urgent action from National Highways but, nine months on, nothing has been done.

“I’m told that much of the delay is down to inefficient internal processes and the so-called ‘short term fix’ is nowhere near implementation.”

Evesham Journal: West Mercia PCC John Campion met with campaigners in JanuaryWest Mercia PCC John Campion met with campaigners in January (Image: West Mercia PCC John Campion met with campaigners in January)

READ MORE: PCC 'committed' to making A46 safer following series of fatal crashes

Mrs Baldwin is particularly concerned by the stretch of road between Evesham and Ashchurch.

In June of this year, a fuel spill along the road near Hinton-on-the-Green caused a crash involving four cars.

On November 10 of last year, there were two crashes at the Hinton junction just an hour apart.

A trapped woman had to be cut free from her vehicle by firefighters after a crash just before 9am.

Then, a man in his 50s died following a collision involving a car and a lorry at 9:45am.

Evesham Journal: The Hinton Cross junction has been the site of several serious and fatal crashes The Hinton Cross junction has been the site of several serious and fatal crashes (Image: Hinton Cross. Credit: Google Maps)

READ MORE: MP wants speed up action to improve A46 safety after series of fatal crashes

Mrs Baldwin has also raised her concerns with the secretary of state for transport, Anne-Marie Trevelyan.

She added: “I have raised this as a priority with the secretary of state for transport and I am hoping that National Highways will be encouraged to act – or meet with me to explain why they are not able to do this simple task.

“The time taken to deliver the short-term solution is extremely worrying and I dread to think how long the permanent solutions could take.

“This delay is putting people’s lives at risk and I hope that someone in National Highways will unblock the process and get something done.”

National Highways have been contacted are due to provide a response soon.

*UPDATE*

National Highways have since responded to confirm that work is underway.

Read more here.