A busy crossroads labelled 'an accident black spot' by councillors is to be replaced by a new roundabout costing more than £4m.

Eastern Daily Press: These are the proposed plans for the roundabout which would replace the dangerous Hempnall crossroads on the A140 near Long Stratton. Image: Norfolk County CouncilThese are the proposed plans for the roundabout which would replace the dangerous Hempnall crossroads on the A140 near Long Stratton. Image: Norfolk County Council (Image: Archant)

Following a public consultation, Norfolk County Council is to press forward with a project that would see a roundabout replacing the A140 Hempnall crossroads, after responses came back overwhelmingly in favour of it.

At a meeting of the council's environment, development and transport committee, members agreed to support the scheme, which will now move onto the full planning stage.

More than £3m has been secured from government funds to be put towards building the roundabout, which will sit where the A140 crosses the B1527 between Long Stratton and Tasburgh. Committee member Tim East said: 'It seems to me it would be a really good idea. It is an accident black spot.'

Martin Wilby, chairman of the committee, also welcomed the proposals, saying the roundabout would make a huge difference to the some 20,000 motorists that use the stretch of road each day.

Eastern Daily Press: Alison Thomas, Conservative councillor for Long Stratton. Pic: Norfolk Conservatives.Alison Thomas, Conservative councillor for Long Stratton. Pic: Norfolk Conservatives. (Image: Norfolk Conservatives)

The consultation – which ran from March 1 to April 10 and took the form of an online questionnaire – received 456 responses, with less than a dozen people opposing the scheme.

Of the respondents, 93pc said they either agreed or strongly agreed with the proposals, with 76.7pc – 350 people – saying they strongly supported it.

It has also been welcomed by Alison Thomas, county councillor for the Long Stratton division.

She said: 'I think it is fantastic news, not just for the residents of Long Stratton and surrounding parishes, but also for anybody that regularly uses the A140.

'It is such a dangerous junction at the moment – whenever I speak to parents whose children have just passed their driving tests, they say they tell the children to avoid it completely. The roundabout will be very welcome indeed, and a long time coming.'

In the past five years, 10 separate collisions have occurred at the junction.

Amy Cole, a project engineer for the council, told members that should the planning process go smoothly, the roundabout should be in place by Autumn 2019.