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Parents of student who died on the A28 at Chartham appeal for lower speed limit
06:00, 20 May 2019
The parents of a student who tragically died after being hit by a van have pleaded for speeds along a notorious road to be reduced.
University of the Creative Arts student Christopher Innes died last May after getting off a bus at an unmarked stop on a 50mph stretch of the A28 at Chartham, near Mansfield fruit farm.
Eight months later, a second pedestrian, 74-year-old Andrew Morrell, was killed at the same spot after being hit by a car travelling towards Canterbury.
Christopher’s parents, Brian and Lesley, are now backing long-running efforts by residents who live near Ashford Road to bring the speed limit along the stretch down to 40mph.
His father, an RAF Flight Sergeant, said: “It’s not going to change things, but it would have given my son a chance.
“I agree with the residents that the speed limit needs to be reduced. It’s a built-up area and it makes no sense coming from a 40mph area, after you come off a bend, to then build up speed.”
Flt Sgt Innes says he welcomes a recent coroner’s letter highlighting the dangers of having a “hail and ride” stop along the busy stretch, with no warning signs to alert drivers.
“There should never have been a bus stop there,” he said. “I thought we were at the wrong place when first taken to the bus stop after the accident.
“But the road is too fast. This was a tragedy waiting to happen, where my son was put in a vulnerable position.
"A risk assessment on this recognised unmarked bus stop location and road would have highlighted [these] hazards.”
As the first anniversary of Christopher’s death approaches on May 25, the family, who live in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, share Chartham residents’ frustration that little has been done to improve safety along the road.
At least five accidents are known to have occurred at the Mansfield junction in the last 10 years.
His mother, Lesley, said: “It’s coming up, on May 25, to a year since Christopher died, and someone else has died since.
“Surely something should have been done right away. Even now, what’s the timeframe for something to get done?”
Describing Christopher as a “great kid” who had a close group of friends in Canterbury, they say it would bring them comfort to know measures were being taken to prevent further accidents.
"This was a tragedy waiting to happen, where my son was put in a vulnerable position..." - Brian Innes, Christopher's father
At the time of his death, Christopher, who also had a twin brother, Stewart, had just completed his second year of a fine arts degree and gained a first.
The Canterbury student, who has since been awarded a posthumous degree, grew up in Cyprus and Germany, where his father had been posted with the RAF, before beginning his studies in 2016.
“He was happy, he was popular and he was brilliant at art. He is deeply missed,” Flt Sgt Innes said.
Mrs Innes added: “We just don’t want another family to go through what we have been through. It will never bring him back, but we don’t want anyone else to have go to through this pain.”
Thomas Rye, of Nickle Cottages, is among residents desperate to see measures put in place.
“We have had two deaths in nine months. It’s not good enough,” he says.
“No one seems to be taking ownership. To me, it’s a complete no-brainer - reduce the speed limit by 10mph, and install speed cameras.
“This is a rural area with about 14 residential homes and hundreds of workers from the farm, in an area with a 50mph limit, bookended by two 40mph stretches with no houses or shops.
“Where is the common sense in that? Where is the supporting evidence to say that the 50mph limit is safe?
“If you ask any of the residents over here, they will tell you how worried we are about the speed of the road.
“It has a huge impact on the community. I’m just flabbergasted that no one in authority seems to be taking this seriously.”
Kent County Council spokesman Thom Morris says the authority is working to improve safety along the stretch.
He said: “We are currently investigating a range of measures, including a reduced speed limit, to improve road safety on the A28 near Chartham.
"We will be liaising with local residents, the parish, city and county councillors and Kent Police regarding the proposals in due course.”
