WORK started on Monday to make a notorious Herefordshire accident spot safer.

One-way travel traffic signals are being installed on the A465 at Llangua Bridge between Hereford and Abergavenny where three people lost their lives on November 27 last year.

Dennis Wheeler, route sponsor for the Highways Agency, said: "Installing one-way travel traffic lights will improve safety for motorists over the bridge. We are also taking the opportunity to provide a new footway for pedestrians, resurface the bridge with anti-skid surfacing and provide new road signs.

There will be 24-hour temporary traffic signals in operation over the bridge during the installation of the permanent signals, making some delays inevitable," said Mr Wheeler.

Work on another dangerous stretch of the road has recently been completed, with signs informing drivers of an advisory speed limit of 40mph in both directions through Pontrilas.

"This will help to improve the safety of the road for all users," said Dennis Wheeler.

Although the improvements have been welcomed, they don't go far enough for concerned residents. More than 30 recommendations were made at a public meeting last month and as a result a request for two additional safety measures has been put to the Highways Agency.

"We are heartened that our concerns are being taken seriously," says Liz Overstall, Chair of the Ewyas Harold Parish Plan. "Our priority is to see the road slowed and we are now asking for a vehicle activated flashing 'bend' sign and for white-on-red 'slow' road markings.

A working group comprising all three local parish councils - Ewyas Harold group, Kentchurch and Grosmont - has been set up, and the issue of the road is an element in the Ewyas Harold Parish Plan.