A pioneering Dutch-style roundabout on Fendon Road in Cambridge, costing £2.3 million, closed shortly after its 2020 opening following a collision. Designed as the UK’s first of its kind, the junction prioritizes pedestrians and cyclists to improve safety.
Early Incident Prompts Closure
The roundabout shut for 10 days after a hit-and-run driver struck a zebra crossing beacon soon after launch. Motorists have since raised ongoing safety issues with the layout.
Resident and Expert Concerns
Local resident Ken Riley highlighted risks from electric scooters, noting they speed onto the cycle track, leaving drivers little time to react. “They approach this roundabout at full speed, and they go straight on to the cycle track; motorists don’t have time to look around before they whizz across in front of them or behind them,” Riley said.
Neville Silverston, founder of emergency rescue service Magpas, described the junction as hazardous. He observed drivers making emergency stops, leading to rear-end crashes. “I don’t think the design has any safety features for the people it was intended to be safe for. It’s a very busy roundabout and motorists use it at quite high speed. It’s too much for even an experienced driver to take in, with cyclists and pedestrians coming from left and right, and vehicles from the right,” Silverston stated.
Consultation Results and Council Response
Prior consultation showed strong support, with 433 residents favoring the Dutch-style design and 115 opposing it. Ian Bates, chairman of the highways and transport committee, addressed criticisms: “No roundabout can 100% have no accident ever – I think that’s almost an impossible task. But the evidence we got from the work which was being done in the Netherlands all indicated that… the Dutch-style roundabout assisted cyclists and brought attention to drivers of cyclists in general.”
Spread Across the UK
Cambridge no longer stands alone, as similar Dutch-style roundabouts now operate in Sheffield and Chichester.
