SAFETY fears have been stirred again following the death of an elderly pedestrian in Winchester city centre.

Gladys Waite, 90, was struck by a bus as she crossed St George's Street on December 28.

The incident happened just yards from a junction that has been branded unsafe by community activists, city councillors and city MP Mark Oaten.

The city residents' association has argued that the semi-pedestrianised section of St George's Street is inherently dangerous.

It also argues that, as pedestrians feel that part of St George's Street is traffic-free, their attention is diverted to the adjoining two-lane Upper Brook Street. Ms Waite was struck by a bus which emerged from the semi-pedestrianised section of St George's Street.

An inquest will be held later this year into her death. Evidence may be heard about whether she was confused by the traffic approaching from two directions. The county council refused to undertake safety work at the junction of St George's Street and Upper Brook Street because it argues the Broadway-Friarsgate development will remove buses from the precinct.

The Daily Echo reported its views in June 2002 under the headline 'It'll be all right.'

However, the multi-million pound redevelopment appears to be bogged down in negotiations between landowners and the developer and so the buses will continue to come through the precinct for years.

City councillor Ian Tait, pictured, said it was wrong for any buses to us the precinct. He said: "The buses should never have been allowed to come through the pedestrian precinct. They should use Friarsgate."

Mr Oaten was nearly an eye witness to the fatal collision, arriving on the scene soon afterwards.

Mr Oaten said: "I am convinced that the junction of St George's Street and Upper Brook Street is unsafe."