2  BATH CHRONICLE THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

CONTACTS
MANAGING
DIRECTOR
Lisa Cameron
lisa.cameron@
reachplc.com

ACTING SOMERSET
SENIOR
EDITOR
Thomas Cock
thomas.cock@
reachplc.com

REGIONAL FIELD
SALES DIRECTOR
Craig Sheppard
craig.sheppard@
reachplc.com

REGIONAL
TELESALES
DIRECTOR

Dozens of volunteers unite to create ‘hope for the future’

Tracie Simms
tracie.simms@
reachplc.com

CONTENT These volunteers came together to on so we reached out to our customers wildflowers. We have renewed ponds improve biodiversity, fight climate
EDITOR start planting fruit and oak trees at a to ask if anyone would like to help, and and hedges, and restored surrounding change and create havens for nature.
Jerry Charge local farm. we have been overwhelmed by the stone walls, which all greatly contribute “Moreover, it’s been well
somersetcopy@
reachplc.com Around 60 volunteers gathered on positive responses we received.” to the beauty of the magnificent documented that tree-planting has a
0117 934 3180 Saturday (February 1) at Newton Farm Celia said: “We are also delighted Capability Brown designed parkland we profound impact on people’s lives, it’s
to help owners Hugh, Celia and Josh that as tenants, our landlords, the proudly farm. often about hope for the future, doing
Digital with the first phase of their tree Duchy of Cornwall, are once again very “This important work has many something that will grow for many
newsdesk: planting scheme. kindly supporting us with our latest tree benefits, as not only does the family years and decades to come, so
01935 709735 The aim is to plant around 50 trees, planting scheme. farming business gain from the fruits of hopefully the volunteers will benefit
including many fruit trees along with “Over recent decades along with the everyone’s labour, but most from their hard work too.
ADVERTISING:
0117 934 3000 some oaks, too. Duchy of Cornwall, we have been importantly so does the wildlife and the All the volunteers were treated to a
Josh said: “Planting trees on such a involved in the planting of several environment. well-deserved Newton Farm speciality
NEWSPAPER SALES: large scale is an enormous task to take hundred trees, and fields of British “Additional trees will continue to sausage roll and drink for their help.
0333 2028000

‘Nothing has The scene after a 32-tonne tipper crashed on the

steep Lansdown Lane in Bath, killing a child and
three men on Monday, February 9, 2015

Corrections and
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changed, the
road is still
dangerous’
Emma Elgee
emma.elgee@reachplc.com
Five years on from a crash that
claimed four lives and shocked
Bath, residents fear a tragedy
could happen again.
On February 9, 2015, a 32-tonne
tipper truck went out of control on
steep Lansdown Lane and crashed
into pedestrians and parked cars.
A court later heard that its brakes
were defective and its driver was
helpless to stop it on the steep hill.
Bath four-year-old Mitzi Steady
(inset) died, along with Robert
Parker, 59, Philip Allen, 52, and Ste-
phen Vaughan, 34 – all from Wales.
Others, including Mitzi’s grand-
mother Margaret Rogers, sustained
life changing injuries.
This week the Bath Chronicle has
spoken to residents who remain
traumatised by the tragedy
One, who wished to remain anon-
ymous, said that the events of Feb-
ruary 9, 2015 had made them want
to move away.
They said: “Nothing has changed,
the road is still dangerous - cars fly
by my house.”
The resident said that cars slow
down only for the lights, but then
speed up straight away. They added
that people disregarding the traffic
calming measures were “shaming”
those who died. “I think it is a shame
to their memories, when people
speed down here.
“I remember the loud bang, I
remember the beeping of the driver,
that poor little girl and her
granny. It’s just awful.”
The resident spoke of the
profound effect the inci-
dent had had on them,
saying that they now walk
the other side of the road
to avoid the tragic scene.
They also spoke of the lane
being a “rat run” for people com-
ing off the motorway, adding they
would like to see more traffic calm-
ing measures. “That road feels like a
time bomb before there’s another
accident. I can’t unsee what I saw
that day,” they added.
After the crash, safety improve-
ments were put in place on the road;
including a zebra crossing, a speed
camera and a 20mph speed limit.
Some people say they feel the
road is safer since the improve-
ments were implemented, but many
say they feel the road is still danger-
ous and that there is still an “acci-
dent waiting to happen”.
They raised concerns that drivers
are ignoring the speed limit and
other safety features.
John Roberts, who has been living
on Lansdown Lane since 1983, said
he had noticed a “horren-
dous” problem with lorries
and buses driving down
the hill.
He said: “We have big
buses which do a loop
from the hospital and
come down here.”
Mr Roberts suggested that
chicanes be put in to stop traffic
coming down to fast and that
another speed camera be installed.
He added: “I can often smell
brakes of cars coming down - to be
honest I’m not sure what the answer
is but I think those would help.”
“It is impossible to forget what
happened here, it was awful.”
Liberal Democrat councillor for
Weston Shelley Bromley said: “As
councillors for Weston, Ruth Malloy
and I regularly receive emails from
residents who are worried about the
general use of Lansdown Lane by
heavy vehicles, parents/carers park-
ing illegally or carelessly on Lans-
down Lane and also about the safety
of the pedestrian crossing at the bot-
tom of Lansdown Lane.
“To that end, the council will be
installing new signs at the top and
bottom of Lansdown Lane with a
new compulsory weight restriction.
“We also have a meeting with the
cabinet members for transport and
the design engineer to consider the
safety of the lower section of Lans-
down Lane, including parking and
the pedestrian crossing near the
roundabout.”
Cllr Joanna Wright, joint cabinet
member for transport, said: “Last
year residents raised concerns with
us about the difficulty crossing the
road between the school and Brook-
field Park and we are currently
investigating ways to make it easier
and safer to cross at this point.
“We will also be looking at ways to
stop people from parking on the
pavement in this part of the road to
improve safety for pedestrians.”