ACCIDENTS on Black Dam roundabout have shot up since millions were spent reconfiguring it, new information obtained by The Gazette reveals.

Since Highways England spent £11 million on regeneration work on the roundabout, there have been more accidents between its opening in February, and June this year, than the whole of 2014 – the year before work took place at Black Dam roundabout.

The information comes from a Freedom of Information request submitted by The Gazette that shows there were five incidents in the first five months of the new layout. In the same period in 2014 – February to June – there were none officially recorded, while there were just four in the whole of the year.

After hearing of The Gazette’s findings, leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s Labour group, Cllr Paul Harvey has called on HCC to review the layout to ensure people’s safety comes first.

Cllr Harvey said: “The first thing that needs to happen is that drivers and residents are safe. 

“You drive around this roundabout and see it where people don’t know which way to go around it, they’re taking turns they’re not sure of and see someone’s car hit at the back.

“We’ve all seen those accidents and it’s a real concern. What we need to be assured of is that Hampshire Highways is taking this serious and is as safe as it can be.”

He added: “It’s important that the route is made better and we need to be assured that the whole roundabout it safe.”

The £11 million improvement works started in October 2014 and were initially due to be completed before the following summer. 

However, in May 2015 Highways England - who carried out the work on the roundabout - announced the project was behind schedule and eventually it opened in February this year.

Work was carried out in a bid to reduce congestion and improve the flow of traffic at the M3 Junction 6.

Despite the work, the number of accidents at Black Dam roundabout continued to rise with at least two further incidents reported by The Gazette this month.

In June, The Gazette told how former UKIP parliamentary candidate Robert Blay was involved in a serious accident which left calling for the “race track” roundabout to be scrapped.

The 56-year-old suffered a badly bruised collar bone and pain in his shoulder and neck after a driver skipped a red light and ploughed into the side of his car, causing it to spin twice.

“Since my accident, I have looked at the speed limit of 50mph around the roundabout and it alarms me how fast that is,” Mr Blay said.

“The speed they come through at is quite phenomenal. 

“There needs to be changes to the layout and the speed could certainly do with being reduced. Considering the amount of cars coming through it’s a huge rise.

“I don’t think it will be long before a fatal accident.”

At the time of publication Highways England had not responded to The Gazette’s request to comment.