A LETTER signed by residents close to one of Shropshire’s most dangerous junctions say it is "horrifying" that children have to cross the busy road.

Last week, businesses from around Mid Wales and north Shropshire co-signed a letter to Highways England calling for traffic lights or a roundabout at Llynclys Crossroads to make it safe.

The crossroads, which connects the A483 to the A495, is an accident blackspot and North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan has also called for action.

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In a response to The Advertizer, National Highways said speed measures, including cameras and a reduced speed limit from 60 to 50mph, will be introduced to the road, but residents co-signing the letter do not believe they go far enough.

The letter, seen by the Advertizer, said: “We were pleased to see the letter from business leaders about Llynclys crossroads and welcome the efforts of Helen Morgan MP on this matter.  

“As a parent you know you have to encourage your children to do things on their own and to tackle things like walking to the school bus when old enough to do so.

“We imagine this is something all parents worry about but for anyone with children in Llynclys this daily anxiety is magnified by the real and present threat of the crossroads.

“Anyone who has ever seen the crossroads and tried to cross it on foot knows how dangerous it can be for an adult let alone a child.

“There is no safe place for crossing and the cars come into view only when already crossing the road.

“As adults, we are conscious that crossing it is a game of roulette and feel a sense of relief once we’ve crossed it and not been hit by a car.

“The idea that children are in this danger on a daily basis is horrifying.

“While we’re glad that some action is being considered to make this treacherous junction slightly safer, the proposals don't go far enough.

“If a child dies crossing the road to go to school, then anyone from the relevant authorities who decided not to fully tackle this junction with the courage and finance needed to make it safe will have that child's blood on their hands.”

Mrs Morgan welcomed the changes proposed by National Highways as short-term option.

She said: “The important thing now is to keep up the pressure and make sure that the speed limits are reduced sooner rather than later.

“Residents have waited years for improvements and are fed up of not seeing the action we need at Llynclys.

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“I know how much this matters to the community and I’ll keep doing everything I can to make the junction safer.

“In the long term the crossroads needs to be revamped and the Llanymynech bypass built but in the meantime, these are really positive steps.

“Thanks must also go to the local businesses that wrote publicly in support of action.”

A spokesman for National Highways reiterated its position had not changed.