AN ANGRY son has slammed Dorset County Council for removing a pedestrian crossing just nine hours before his mother was killed on a busy Christchurch road.

Widow Joyce Giles died after being involved in a collision with a Ford Mondeo at road works in Barrack Road on February 18. Tragedy struck just days before her 81st birthday.

Now her "devastated" sons Michael and Christopher have joined forces to criticise the council.

Christopher Giles, 49, from New Milton, said: "The family is 100 per cent certain that my mother would be alive today if the crossing had been provided for her to cross the road. That's why we have such anger.

"Mum lived in Barrack Road since 1958. We all knew it well. That's why she was so careful about crossing the road because obviously Barrack Road is dangerous and there have been several deaths there."

In a statement issued through their solicitors, Christopher, and his 54-year-old brother from Poole, said the council had failed to update risk assessments, despite being aware of speeding problems in the road works.

"Despite this, the council had failed to appreciate that there should have been an overlap between the switching off of the temporary puffin crossing which had been installed through the road works and the installation of the new replacement controlled crossing.

"The replacement crossing took five days to be brought into operation.

"As the result of the switching off of the puffin crossing, pedestrians and other vulnerable persons were placed at risk by having to use an uncontrolled crossing."

The brothers cannot understand why a risk assessment was not carried out, "when it was quite apparent to the council that there was likely to be a serious risk to pedestrians once the puffin crossing was switched off".

Christopher said: "The council didn't, under any circumstances, take on board any responsibility."

A county council spokesman sympathised, but added: "We are satisfied that appropriate and timely risk assessments were undertaken throughout the Barrack Road/Stour Road junction improvement works. The safety of the public was given priority at all times.

"The district coroner, who was invited to consider the issue during last month's inquest, gave no indication that he considered Dorset County Council to be at fault in connection with Mrs Giles' death."

An accidental death verdict was recorded.

  • Mondeo driver Raymond Keith Moore of Twyford Way, Canford Heath, Poole, is due to appear before Bournemouth magistrates on Monday, September 29, facing a charge of careless driving.