Victory for death road safety barriers campaign

AND a speed camera should be installed, says a Fatal Accident Investigation report.

The news is a victory for the Observer's "Safety Barriers Now! campaign and for town MP Gregory Barker who took up the campaign.

The Observer's campaign followed the horrific accident in February when driver Stuart Doe lost his life and a Jacki Carpenter and her family were made homeless.

It was swiftly was taken up by Mr Barker.

Together with the Observer, Mr Barker met representatives of the Highways Agency and their then trunk road contractors W.S. Atkins in March to press for a barrier to stop other vehicles plunging off a bend on the steep and busy A259 and into flats at Gilbert House.

When built, the new barrier should also offer protection to an adjoining property and to pedestrians using the footpath, which at that point is below road level.

In a 12-page report (plus appendices) on the February accident, the Highways Agency now acknowledges that King Offa Way has been the scene of 13 injury accidents in two years.

It says a string of safety measures are needed.

It says the cobbled area preceding the layby in front of Gilbert House where Jacki Carpenter was trapped in the wreckage of her home could act as a "launch pad" for speeding vehicles leaving the road.

It says that because of the speed of some road-users, police operating speed checks could themselves be at risk.

The report recommends:

l Providing safety fencing from the end of the existing pedestrian guardrail to the brick wall at the end of the layby

l Providing a speed camera for the westbound (downhill) carriageway

l Providing a safety fence for the entire length of the central reservation with alternate sections coloured black and white

l Phasing the London Road traffic lights so that all vehicles can clear the junction

l Providing edge-of-carriageway markings along the entire length of King Offa Way to make the road appear narrower

l Providing a directional sign before the first dedicated right-turn on the westbound approach of King Offa Way.

l Providing additional remedial measures including "Slow" markings on red pads on the roadway, "countdown" markers giving advance warning of the 30mph limit and electronic speed-activated message signs indicating individual road-users' speeds

Mr Barker told the Observer: "I am relieved that the Highways Agency have listened to our concerns.

"We still need to see these measures implemented but I am extremely grateful to the Observer for helping to highlight this dangerous road and for bringing so much pressure to bear.

"The role of the Observer and its readers has undoubtedly played a key role in winning this small victory for Bexhill.

"I will now be pressing the Government to make the money available and to commence the necessary works before there is yet another tragic accident."

David Gilbert's wife, Michelle, and young son, Alex, had arrived home shortly before the crash. Minutes later Stuart Doe's Vauxhall Astra Coupe smashed into the front of the building, destroying the room in which neighbour Jacki Carpenter and her family sat and trapping Jacki under the rubble.

Driver Stuart Doe, 25, died at the scene.

This week, Observer display advertisement manager Mr Gilbert greeted news of the safety campaign's success with a whoop of joy.

"Excellent! Good stuff!" he said.

"I think this is what has been needed. But it's been a long time in coming.

"I am really glad about this news because it will affect not only my family but other people living in the flats.

"The Observer campaign has done it. It is so good that the local paper and the MP have campaigned for it because that's the way you get things done."