Latest update
Following the introduction to temporary safety measures at Loscombe Crossroads in 2025, we have completed a programme of monitoring and assessment to understand how the changes have affected road safety and traffic on the junction and surrounding roads.
The temporary measures were introduced in response to a history of serious and fatal collisions at the junction. They were designed to remove crossing movements that posed the greatest risk to road users.
After reviewing the monitoring evidence and technical assessments, we are proposing to make the closure permanent and introduce additional safety measures.
We are inviting residents, businesses, road users and other stakeholders to tell us how the closure has affected them and whether further safety measures are needed.
We are also consulting on a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) to prohibit U-turns at several junctions along the route.
Proposed changes
We are proposing to make the temporary closure at Loscombe Crossroads permanent.
We are also proposing additional safety measures to:
- improve clarify for road users
- physically prevent unsafe manoeuvres at the junction
- introduce new traffic restrictions through a TRO
The proposed permanent TRO would:
- prohibit right turns out of Marl Lane
- prohibit right turns out of Old Compton Lane
- extend U-turn restrictions along the A30
These measures would formally establish the current operation of the junction, which has been in place under temporary arrangements.
Read further information about the temporary measures introduced in 2025.
Reasons for the proposal
Loscombe Crossroads is on a fast section of the A30 between Sherborne and Yeovil.
Collision records show a number of serious and fatal collisions at the junction, including four fatalities across three separate incidents between 2020 and 2024. Most of these incidents involved vehicles crossing the A30.
In 2025, temporary restrictions were introduced to remove these crossing movements and improve safety.
The temporary arrangement allowed us to assess whether the safety benefits could be achieved without creating unacceptable impacts elsewhere on the road network.
Alternative options considered
As part of the assessment process, we explored a range of long-term options for Loscombe Crossroads. These included layouts that would have allowed vehicles to continue crossing the A30 while addressing the safety issues identified at the junction.
Each option was assessed against:
- road safety
- deliverability
- environmental impact
- value for money
- impacts on local communities
Although some options could have allowed certain restricted movements to return, they would have required significant highway changes and substantial investment.
The assessment concluded that none of the options offered a proportionate solution when compared with the safety benefits already achieved through the current arrangement.
We therefore consider a permanent closure to be the most effective way of maintaining the safety benefits delivered by the temporary scheme.
Monitoring and assessment findings
Since the temporary restrictions were introduced, we have carried out monitoring at the junction and on surrounding routes.
This has included:
- traffic counts
- turning movement surveys
- speed surveys
- observations of surrounding roads
- analysis of collision data
The monitoring was designed to understand how drivers have adapted to the changes and whether any new safety concerns have emerged elsewhere on the network.
Key findings
The temporary scheme has removed the high-risk crossing movements associated with the junction's history of serious and fatal collisions.
Monitoring shows that traffic patterns have changed on some surrounding roads as drivers have adapted to the revised junction layout. Vehicle speeds on the A30 have also reduced following the introduction of the 60mph speed limit.
While some roads have experienced increases in traffic and others have seen little change or a reduction, these impacts have been assessed alongside the road safety benefits delivered by the scheme.
After reviewing the monitoring evidence, collision history and technical assessments, we consider that the benefits of removing high-risk crossing movements outweigh the impacts of redistributed traffic on surrounding routes.
For this reason, we are proposing to make the current restrictions permanent through a TRO.
Wider impacts
We recognise that the changes have affected travel between communities north and south of the A30.
As part of the monitoring programme, we have assessed traffic conditions on roads used as alternative routes, including those serving Over Compton, Nether Compton and Bradford Abbas.
The results of these surveys form part of the evidence being considered alongside road safety data, local feedback and technical assessments.
Safety improvements on the wider A30
While this proposal focuses on the future of Loscombe Crossroads, we continue to explore ways to improve safety along the A30 between Sherborne and Yeovil.
One option being developed is the introduction of average speed cameras. These cameras measure vehicle speeds over a longer distance rather than at a single point, helping to encourage compliance with speed limits and more consistent driving behaviour.
The proposed permanent closure, TRO and average speed cameras would address different road safety issues. The TRO would maintain restrictions on crossing movements at Loscombe Crossroads, while average speed cameras would support compliance with the 60mph speed limit along the wider route.
Share your views on the closure
We want to understand how the closure has affected local communities, businesses and road users.
The survey asks about your experience of the current arrangement, including the impact on your journeys, any concerns you have, and whether further safety or other measures are needed.
We will consider the survey responses alongside the monitoring evidence and other supporting information before making a final decision. The responses will also help us identify whether any additional measures may be needed to address the impacts of the closure.
Survey opens: 22 October
Survey closes: 3 December
We'll add a link to the survey here once it opens.
This survey is separate from the statutory Traffic Regulation Order consultation. If you wish to formally support or object to the proposed permanent TRO, you must do so through the separate TRO consultation.
All comments received during the consultation period will be considered.
Traffic Regulation Order consultation
We are also carrying out the statutory consultation on the proposed permanent TRO.
A TRO is the legal process required to make the current traffic restrictions permanent. The consultation gives you the opportunity to submit a formal representation in support of or objection to the proposed Order.
If you wish to make a formal representation about the proposed permanent TRO, you should do so through the TRO consultation rather than through the survey.
Consultation opens: 22 October
Consultation closes: 3 December
We'll add a link to submit a formal representation once it opens.
Supporting documents
The following documents are available:
Next steps
Once the consultation closes, we will:
- review all comments received
- consider the monitoring evidence and supporting assessments
- decide whether to proceed with the Permanent Traffic Regulation Order
We will publish a further update once the process is complete.