'Death tree' felled

CAMPAIGNERS pushing for road safety measures at a notorious accident blackspot saw a "death tree" implicated in several accidents felled this week — but they claim more must be done.The tree stood on the outside of a bend on the A6135, at H
By The Newsroom
Published 8th Jan 2010, 12:15 BST
Updated 24th Nov 2014, 03:29 BST
CAMPAIGNERS pushing for road safety measures at a notorious accident blackspot saw a "death tree" implicated in several accidents felled this week — but they claim more must be done.

The tree stood on the outside of a bend on the A6135, at Harley, and was central to a catalogue of accidents since 1978 which details more than 15 deaths — including two in which three people were killed in 1995 and 2008 — compiled by Cynthia Shaw.

Calls for the tree to come down were re-ignited last November when four teenagers narrowly escaped serious injury when the car they were travelling in careered into the tree in an accident reminiscent of one which claimed the lives of three teenagers in May 2007.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad
Most Popular

On Monday, the tree was finally cut down eight months after Sheffield Coroner Christopher Dorries recommended the action as part of a three-stage improvement plan for the blackspot following an investigation into the tragic smash.

Now members of the A6135 Accident Reduction Group believe that Mr Dorries's other recommendations must be implemented.

"It is a great relief to see the tree come down but more action has to be taken," said Mrs Shaw.

"The coroner recommended that the tree be felled, a fixed speed camera introduced and the crash barriers extended. At the moment we have seen Barnsley Council implement the cheapest of those three options but it is essential that they follow this through in order to save lives in future."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad
 
Related topics:Barnsley CouncilSheffield