Bilsthorpe residents step up fight for A614 improvements
BILSTHORPE residents campaigning for safety improvements on the A614 will take their fight to County Hall if they do not receive the backing of councillors.
Parish councillors and villagers have been calling for safety measures for a number of years, but were spurred into action after February's horror crash which claimed six lives.
Ross Johnson (19), of Parkstone Avenue, Rainworth; Josh Drinkwater (18), of Mansfield Road, Blidworth; Jay Thompson (18), of Denbigh Close, Rainworth; Thomas Hudson (17), of Waltham Road, Ravenshead and Edwinstowe couple Christine Bray (66) and her 69-year-old husband Jonathan, of Thoresby Avenue, all died in the crash. Campaigners were hoping last week's inquest into the deaths would support their call for improvements, but crash investigators told the coroner the road was not a factor in the accident. At a meeting at Bilsthorpe Village Hall last Wednesday, parish councillor Mike Butler said: "Six people have died in one accident and I don't believe it would have happened if there had been a roundabout." Residents at the meeting also demanded action, claiming 'getting in and out of this village is murder', and criticised local county councillors Andy Freeman and Stella Smedley for their lack of support. Sherwood MP Paddy Tipping was unable to attend the meeting but pledged to back the campaign in a letter handed out to residents. He described the A614 as a 'very dangerous road' and said he had campaigned for improvements for more than 10 years. He said: "A strong campaign locally will help lead to improvements. You can be sure that I will continue to press the issue vigorously and I will, of course, help in any way I can." It was agreed Mr Tipping and councillors Freeman and Smedley would be invited to the next tenants and residents' association meeting. In case they are unable to attended the meeting, they will also be sent an open invitation to meet campaigners. But residents say if they do not meet to discuss the situation, the group will then protest on the steps of County Hall to try and get their message across. And Coun Butler told the meeting the only way to get safety improvements on the road was to keep pressurising county councillors. "We need to keep the issue at the forefront of county council deliberation," he said. "We can do this through people writing and through our petition."
BILSTHORPE RESIDENTS URGED TO BACK THE CAMPAIGN FOR INCREASED SAFETY MEASURES ALONG THE A614 Please download the above letters and send them forward to the attached addresses in order to show your support for the campaign....
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