Calls for 'urgent' safety review after A38 death

Bromsgrove's MP is calling for an urgent safety probe into a £50m roadwork scheme after a cyclist was killed.

Bradley Thomas wants Worcestershire County Council to carry out a review into the A38 Bromsgrove Route Enhancement Programme (BREP).

On Tuesday, a man in his 80s died in a collision between a lorry and a bicycle on the northbound side of the A38.

A spokesperson for the council said it was "deeply saddened" by the incident and would be supporting the West Mercia Police investigation.

Thomas said: "It's tragic - it's just a sorry set of circumstances that someone has lost their life at what is a busy junction.

"It's really important to establish the facts, and not jump the gun in terms of what may have happened, but for a long time it's been quite clear that BREP is having a really negative impact on the lives of residents and visitors to the town."

He said the "particular pinch-point" where the incident happened is "not easy to navigate" due to the roadworks.

"The police must be allowed to get on with their investigation and to establish the facts - speculation is not in any way helpful," he added.

"But it's really important there is a review of that junction in light of this, just to rule out any risk of further incidents taking place - I hope the county council will do that as a matter of urgency," he added.

Local residents also told the BBC they had long-standing concerns about the safety of cyclists and pedestrians at the site.

Jon Coleman, who has been campaigning for extra safety measures, said he had emailed the council to ask for an "immediate safety audit" of the A38.

"I've had concerns about the layout and lack of proper safety measures since the start of BREP," he said.

"There needs to be an emergency review of all the crossings. There's a lot of barriers, equipment and fencing at the site, there's a lot going on."

Matthew Noble, an eye witness who saw the crash, said: "There's barriers up right across that site, it makes it (the road space) much narrower than it was before.

"You really do, I think, take your life into your hands if you cycle at that junction, or if you're a motorcyclist."

Following the collision, a 35-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving by West Mercia Police.

She has since been released under investigation.

The BREP scheme is one of the biggest road enhancement programmes ever undertaken in Worcestershire, with most of the funding coming from the Department for Transport.

A council spokesman said: "We are deeply saddened by the tragic road traffic collision in Bromsgrove, and our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with the family and friends of the man who sadly lost his life, and with everyone affected by this devastating incident.

"The circumstances surrounding the collision are currently being investigated by West Mercia Police.

"As is the case following any fatality on Worcestershire's road network, Worcestershire County Council will support the investigations."

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