Safety measures are to be introduced on a dangerous junction in Winchester nearly a year after an elderly pensioner was killed.
Residents have long been calling on Hampshire County Council to do something about the St George's Street junction in the city centre close to where 90-year-old Gladys Waite was knocked down by a bus as she crossed the road on December 28th last year.
Despite pressure from Winchester Residents' Association and MP, Mark Oaten, the county dragged its heels over the notorious section of road and was criticised by deputy coroner, Simon Burge, for failing to take action.
Speaking in June at the inquest into Gladys Waite's death, Mr Burge said: "I wish to state that I concur with the general view of residents that the junction of St George's Street with Upper Brook Street, on that bend that we all know, is dangerous. Warnings were given to the council that a serious accident would occur and that is what happened."
The county council had previously resisted calls for changes to the road, unwilling to spend money when the proposed Friarsgate development would remove buses from that street. That position changed when Gladys Waite was killed.
"Where there is a fatality, we review whether new measures are needed. It has been decided they are needed and so this is what we are doing," said a county council spokesman.
A pedestrian phase will now be included in the traffic lights and, for the first time, shoppers will be directed to part of the road where they can cross safely.
New barriers will also be introduced further along St George's Street, close to the spot where Mrs Waite was knocked down.
Buses will also be moved further back down the street to give pedestrians more room to cross the road.
"At last. That's fantastic news and a victory for common sense," said MP, Mr Oaten.
"I would congratulate the local papers and the residents' association for plugging away at this issue. It's a pity that, despite years of warnings, it took a coroner's report to get something done."
Work is expected to start in four weeks.
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