THE DEATH of a pensioner on a busy Bidford road has re-ignited safety fears.
Great-grandmother Clare Wyatt died after being hit by a van while crossing Tower Hill Road on January 3.
The tragedy came just a few months after the daughter of another pensioner – who was lucky to escape without serious injuries after being hit by a car while crossing the same stretch of road – criticised highway chiefs for not doing more to improve safety measures.
Monica McCann was fortunate to only suffer cuts and bruises after being knocked down near the junction with Waterloo Road.
The 88-year-old was walking back from the village centre to her bungalow.
Although there are central reservations along the road for pedestrians, Janet saidher mum had previously expressed fears about crossing the road, and about the speed some people drove at.
Janet told The Observer: “Although mum has been ‘lucky’ in that she has no serious injuries, it was a warning that next time the consequence for someone could be more dire without further safety precautions put in place.
“We are deeply shocked and saddened to learn that within months of mum’s accident there has been a fatal incident in the same area, also involving an elderly person. The two incidences are frightening similar.
“We do not feel local bodies take into account the requirements of the proportionately large elderly population in that area.
“Mum is still receiving physiotherapy for her injuries, some of which may be permanent – two of her fingers are still bent over.
“She has always been a very independent individual but this has knocked her confidence – she is now less willing to go out and is constantly fearful of the traffic on Tower Hill.”
When The Observer covered Monica’s accident in October Warwickshire County Council highway chiefs said the road had a good safety record and very few accidents had been recorded.
Following Mrs Wyatt’s death, The Observer contacted the county council again, but the authority maintained it was not an accident blackspot and “visibility in the vicinity of the accident” was not restricted.
Mrs Wyatt’s devastated family paid tribute to the 82 year-old.
She was married to Eric for nearly 58 years, was a mother of seven, grandmother of 17 and great-grandmother of four.
Her family said: “She was the matriarch and rock to our family and we are devastated by our loss.”
