Safety barrier at scene of triple death crash

And the Observer has been thanked for its campaign.

Contractors put the final section in place early this week. The steel barrier offers protection to pedestrians using the pavement at a point where it is considerably below the level of the busy A259 trunk road and on the apex of a downhill bend.

It also offers protection to residents of Gilbert House, the flats where a family were trapped in the wreckage of their ground floor front room when a Vauxhall Astra Coupe skidded off the road and plunged down the embankment in March of last year.

The inquest into the driver's death heard that he had been doing 88mph at the time of crash.

It was the second death crash at the spot in three months. There has since been a third when a motorcyclist hit a lamppost on the central reservation.

The Observer immediately began campaigning for better safety measures for the road. The campaign was taken up by town MP Greg Barker and, together with Rother leader Cllr Graham Gubby the MP pressed the case with Transport Minister Tony McNulty at his London office last December.

The Observer was present at the meeting and was able to explain the problem to the Minister - backed by a sheaf of cuttings illustrating accidents on King Offa Way which have also included a motorcyclist coming to grief on the same bend at (on his own admission to rescuers) 140mph.

Three weeks ago the Highways Agency told a delighted MP that it hoped to install the safety barrier "this financial year" and to put in a speed camera in October.

Mr Barker said then that he was pleased and relieved at the Highways Agency's announcement but vowed to keep a careful watch to ensure that these essential road safety improvements were kept on track.

He said this week: "At long last we have got the railings we wanted, the safety barrier that will protect local residents and make for a safer road.

"It is long overdue but I am delighted that it has taken place.

"This would never have happened without the Bexhill Observer's campaign and it is a very good example of the Observer speaking up for the local community and making a real difference."

Cllr Gubby said that he was delighted that the Highways Agency had responded to local concern.

Observer deputy advertisement manager David Gilbert, who lives in the flats, said: "I am glad that the barrier is up now. It certainly makes it feel safer.

"People who have just moved into the flats have commented that they are relieved because they had heard what's been happening.

"But I hope they also get the speed camera up soon in King Offa Way. People are still coming down there at a terrific speed and it will be a deterrent."

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