Council seeks feedback on impacts of proposed permanent Loscombe Crossroads closure

People living, working and travelling near Loscombe Crossroads on the A30 are being invited to share information about how the junction's temporary closure has affected them before Dorset Council makes a decision on its future.

The crossroads, near Sherborne, has been closed on a temporary basis since October 2025 as part of efforts to improve road safety. The closure was introduced following concerns about a long history of serious collisions at the junction.

Dorset Council is now publishing the evidence collected during the trial period and is asking residents, businesses and road users to provide information about how the closure has affected their journeys, communities and day to day lives. This feedback will help ensure the council has a full understanding of the closure's impacts before a final decision is made.

The crossroads has been the site of a number of serious collisions over the years. Between 2015 and 2025, there were 11 injury collisions, including four fatalities. Most collisions involved drivers attempting to cross the dual carriageway through the centre of the junction.

Cllr Jack Jeanes, Dorset Council’s Cabinet Member for Place Services, said:

"We know this closure has had an impact on people living in Over Compton, Bradford Abbas and nearby communities.

"At the same time, we cannot ignore the history of serious collisions at this junction and the lives that have been lost. Since the closure was introduced, no collisions have been recorded there.

"We want to make sure we understand the full picture before a final decision is taken. Alongside the road safety, traffic and speed data we have collected, we are asking people to tell us how the closure has affected them so that all relevant information can be considered.

"If you live, work or travel in the area, I would encourage you to take part in the survey and share your experience."

A temporary closure was introduced following a formal Prevention of Future Deaths report issued by HM Senior Coroner for Dorset after a fatal collision at the junction in December 2022. That report highlighted a pattern of serious collisions and called for action to reduce the risk of further deaths.

Because the initial temporary closure can only remain in place for 18 months, the council must now consider the available evidence and decide whether the arrangement should become permanent.

Since the temporary closure was introduced twelve months ago, there have been no recorded collisions at the junction.

The council has been monitoring the impact of the closure on road safety, traffic levels and nearby communities. While some traffic has moved onto alternative local routes and some journeys now take longer, the monitoring data indicates that the closure has significantly improved safety at the junction.

Three near-miss incidents were also reported during the trial period. Although none resulted in a collision, additional signs and other measures are proposed to further improve safety and reduce confusion for road users.

As part of this work, several alternative options for reopening the junction safely were assessed. These included traffic signals, a roundabout and a redesigned crossroads. Estimated costs range from around £1 million to £15 million. By comparison, making the closure permanent, alongside additional improvements for pedestrians and cyclists, is estimated to cost between £250,000 and £300,000.

This is only one part of the work to improve safety across the A30. There is a separate consultation being held to prohibit u-turns at other gaps across the route, and the council is also continuing work on separate proposals for average speed cameras along the A30 to improve safety across the wider route.

People can share their experiences of using the A30 and surrounding roads through a survey until it closes on 11 December 2026: https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/w/proposed-permanent-closure-at-loscombe-crossroads-a30-over-compton

The monitoring report, supporting evidence and details of how to take part are available on the Dorset Council website. All information gathered will be considered alongside road safety, traffic and technical evidence before a decision is made on the future of the junction.