CAMPAIGNERS aiming to improve the safety of a “dangerous” Monmouthshire road junction have collected more than 1,000 signatures.

They say the A40 Raglan bypass is badly designed and is unsafe, claiming its poor design is leading to unnecessary congestion within Raglan village itself.

The stretch of road has been the subject of a number of incidents in recent memory, with the Groesenon Road junction with the A40 and the pedestrian crossing from Raglan village to the castle causing particular concern.

Residents who have signed the petition met with both Monmouth MP David Davies and Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay, along with Raglan’s county councillor Penny Jones.

There are hopes that a roundabout could be constructed between the roundabout and the slip roads from the dual carriageway, however this is considered an unlikely option due to the close proximity of the slip roads.

Instead campaigners hope for a reduced speed limit to 50mph, something which was deemed unnecessary by a Welsh Government review in 2015, and better signage, both for vehicles and for the pedestrian crossing.

Last week the petition had received 1,063 signatures, with more signing it all the time.

Residents who have signed the petition claim using the road is “taking your life in your hands,” and that the junction is badly signed, reporting a number of incidents and near-misses.

Mr Ramsay, who has previously spoken on the subject, said: “The A40 at Raglan continues to be a source of immense concern for local residents and motorists alike.

“There is a desperate need for measures to make the crossing from the village to the castle safer, whether that be by means of the installation of a formal crossing or speed restrictions - or both.

“Pedestrians are currently taking their life in their hands when they cross this busy stretch of road, which will only get busier with the completion of the A465 Heads of the Valleys dualling.

“There is also the continuing need for the junction between the A40 and the Old Monmouth Road to be upgraded to reduce the number of accidents at this point.

“I am calling on the Welsh Government to undertake a speedy review of this stretch of road so that an action plan can be put in place as soon as possible to improve its safety.

“I am also asking the Welsh Transport Secretary Ken Skates AM to visit this stretch of road so that he can see these problems for himself.”