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Folkestone: Family petitions for controlled crossing near to where an elderly woman was killed

By: Victoria Chessum

Published: 00:00, 28 September 2016

Updated: 08:22, 28 September 2016

A grieving family have set up a petition to get a crossing installed near to where an elderly woman was killed.

Gwendoline Copping, 94, attempted to cross Sandgate Road, Folkestone, when her mobility scooter collided with a Land Rover Freelander on April 15.

She suffered multiple injuries at the scene and died after the accident, which was described as a “tragic and unfortunate mistake” by PC Glynn Walker at her inquest earlier this month.

Gwendoline Copping was on her way back from the pharmacy. Copyright Kent Police.

Motorist Susan Baker had been looking for a parking space in the rain and did not see the pensioner, the inquest heard.

Mrs Copping’s only daughter, Barbara Bradford, 69, her husband John, 75, and granddaughter Susan Bradford, 42, have since set up a petition, which they have begun distributing in town centre shops in a bid to get support from residents.

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Mrs Bradford, of Foreland Avenue in Folkestone, said: “I want the crossing to be at the top end of Sandgate Road, just up from where my mum was. If we say a particular location we are less likely to get it.”

The family want a zebra crossing or a set of traffic lights to be installed somewhere near the Christ Church chapel or the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Some 21 shops in Sandgate Road have the petition out for people to sign, along with eight more shops further up the road.

Barbara and John Bradford and daughter Sue are campaigning for a proper crossing at the top end of Sandgate Road in the town centre

She said: “There is nowhere that end for anyone to cross safely, they made it clear at the inquest it was not a controlled crossing.

“I was stunned to find that although there are five crossing points at the top end of Sandgate Road all with special drop kerbs, some with extended pavements and central islands, none of them carry any rights for the pedestrian to cross.

“This has made me quite upset that a large proportion of the road users have no rights at all to cross safely.”

The family hopes to have enough signatures by November 26, when Mrs Copping would have celebrated her 95th birthday.

To pledge your support online, click here

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