DEADLY junctions on the A38 in South East Cornwall are coming under the spotlight for safety improvements.

Highways England is set to carry out a detailed study into the junctions at Menheniot and Lean Quarry.

The news has been welcomed by local pressure group Safe38, who credit MP Sheryll Murray for raising the matter in Parliament in October and gaining the Prime Minister’s assurance that these blackspots would be made a priority.

The A38 junctions with the B3252 at Lean Quarry and with the B3251 at Menheniot have been discussed for many years. Back in 2006, the Cornish Times reported on a presentation taking place on proposed safety measures.

Since then, the junctions have “been in a limbo with no funding attached to them” says Safe38, but they have continued to see serious accidents and have claimed several lives. 19-year-old Christopher Platt died near the Menheniot junction in April 2006; Paul Paris, 41, died in September 2008 after a car pulled out into the path of his motorbike from the same junction; Richard Neale, 20, died after an accident close to the Looe turn-off in April 2010; and Faye Holley, 69, lost her life at the junction with the B3251 in May 2019.

Kat Liddington, Highways England’s South West Programme Development Manager, said: “We’re exploring both short and long-term measures to improve safety on the A38, and we are keeping all stakeholders and interested parties informed as to progress.

“We have received Department for Transport approval to embark on a detailed feasibility study around the A38 Lean Quarry and Menheniot junction, and this early work will explore the potential for improvements at this location.”

Mrs Murray said she had delivered surveys to around 500 households in Menheniot.

“This is asking about which junctions people use, what times of day, any particular problems and any solutions they see.

“It’s a very open questionnaire to try and get as much information as possible. It will be good to get some statistics.”

Meanwhile, says Highways England, work is continuing on designing safety measures for the trunk road between Trerulefoot and Saltash.

“We have been engaging with stakeholders and other interested parties on an overall A38 Trerulefoot to Carkeel Safety Package,” said Ms Liddington.

“This is very much in development, and will be looking to consult on finalised options in the winter of 2022/2023.”