THE Highways Agency is “fully committed to seeking an affordable solution” to problems on the A1 between Buckden and Southoe, says its chief executive Graham Dalton.

He was responding to Huntingdon MP Jonathan Djanogly, who wrote to him in April to say villagers had lost faith in the agency due to its lack of action to make the route safer.

Mr Dalton said he appreciated access to and from the A1 was difficult for Buckden, Diddington and Southoe residents and understood why they had contacted the MP.

Addressing the issue of the A1 roundabout at Buckden, he said a study carried out in 2011 had revealed that altering the junction would be impracticable due to utilities equipment which would need to be moved and drainage works.

Traffic lights, he continued, had been ruled out “because of the excessive queuing they would generate on the A1”. He concluded: “There are no plans to make changes to the Buckden roundabout at present, although we do continue to monitor its performance.”

Commenting on Diddington, where Mr Djanogly had been led to believe new signs had been promised, Mr Dalton denied any such assurances had been given.

Instead, discussions had taken place with a villager who wanted to put up a ‘Danger’ sign at his own expense, he said.

Mr Dalton confirmed the agency was considering lowering the speed limit on the dual carriageway to 60mph between the villages and enforcing it with average speed cameras.

He wrote: “As well as improving safety on the A1, we are hopeful that this could help with access to and from Diddington and Southoe.

“The scheme is currently going through our value management process and I have asked my Asset Development Team to write to you again once we know the way forward.”

Commenting on the response, Mr Djanogly said: “Clearly they have identified that average speed cameras could be the answer and I am very pleased to see they are investigating the use of them.”

He added that he would continue to raise issues surrounding access to and from Diddington with the HA.