A FATHER says he fears someone could soon be killed at the notorious ‘death-trap’ roundabout junction in Chester unless urgent action is taken.

Daniel Murphy, who lives on the A49 Whitchurch Road, is pleading with the council to address serious safety concerns at the busy Caldy Valley Junction in Boughton - branded the ‘hamburger’ roundabout.

He says the narrowing of the lanes on the approach to the roundabout is putting lives at risk as drivers are often forced to veer into oncoming traffic or mount the pavement.

Mr Murphy has already seen a number of near-misses at the roundabout – including when a bus mounted the pavement to avoid an oncoming HGV.

He had been walking home with his six-year-old son Nat at the time, and the pair narrowly avoided being hit by the bus.

“If we had been there 20 seconds later we would have been killed,” said the 37-year-old.

“That section of pavement has been made extremely dangerous by the narrowing of the lanes.

“It’s just not safe for pedestrians round there. I don’t walk down there with my son anymore.”

Last Monday, Mr Murphy witnessed another crash on the exit to the roundabout on Whitchurch Road.

Two cars collided almost head on, leaving one driver with minor injuries.

Mr Murphy added: “It shouldn’t take an accident for the council to realise there’s something wrong with this junction.

“If people had been walking on the pavement they could have been crushed against the brick wall.

“That would have been a direct result of the council not making the junction safe.”

A survey was carried out by engineers to address residents’ concerns earlier this year.

A report concluded: “The personal injury collision records show that in the 17 month period post substantial completions of the works, there have been three personal injury collisions at the junction and none involved vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, pedal cyclists or motorcyclists.

“The evidence collected...has clearly demonstrated there has been a material improvement in the operation of the junction.”

Earlier this year, residents pleaded with Cheshire West and Chester Council to tackle safety issues at the controversial roundabout.

Helen Carey, of People’s Revolt Over Unsustainable Development, called for an independent review of its operation when she addressed the council executive.

She told councilors: “We are living in a nightmare of unpredictable junction queues, excessive heavy building traffic, which is not adhering to restrictions, safety issues directly resulting from rat runs to avoid the junction and, most importantly of all, we are living with a highly dangerous junction right on our doorstep.”

However, this week, a spokesman for Cheshire West and Chester Council said the authority was happy that extensive highway tests had been carried out and believed the roundabout to be safe.