A ZEBRA crossing is to be erected on the stretch of road where a man, whose parents live in Hinderwell, was tragically killed.
Robert Mead (28) whose parents Stephen and Helen live in the village was hit by a school coach while crossing Scarborough’s Valley Road in September 2008.
He was on his way to the Mencap centre in Valley Road when he collided with the bus which ha
d been taking children home from Scarborough’s St Augustine’s School.
Mr Mead suffered serious head and stomach injuries which eventually claimed his life in July last year, after a 10-month battle to save him.
In response to the tragedy, and other accidents on the stretch of road between St James’ Road and Westbourne Grove, Scarborough Borough Council plans to create a zebra crossing and reduce the widths of lanes to influence drivers’ speeds.
David Mennell, manager of the Mencap centre has welcomed the zebra crossing and said a campaign for a crossing at the spot where Mr Mead was killed dates back over a decade.
“We would welcome a crossing very much,” he said. “We’ve campaigned long and hard for an improvement in the road management to make things safer for the people who come here.
“The campaign first started about 12 years ago but has tailed off a bit in recent years because it seemed to be getting nowhere.
“Unfortunately it takes a tragic accident like Robert’s to get something done.”
Speed bumps or cushions have been ruled out as driver speeds are “not excessively high enough” to justify them, and also because the road is important commercially as it used by companies distributing goods, says a report.
The report suggesting the changes is to be presented to Andrew Backhouse, Scarborough Borough Council’s cabinet member for technical services.
More consultation is expected on the plans, but if they get the green light, work is expected to begin in February, with a completion date in March.
