Fresh concerns have been raised about the safety of Berrow’s Coast Road following an incident on Thursday (February 27th) in which a bus fell onto its side.
Two people were taken to hospital after the bus toppled into a ditch, as first reported here.
Local resident Andrea Johnson, who has long campaigned for a footpath along Coast Road, says the incident again puts safety in focus. It comes as £80,000 earmarked for the path has been lost.
She told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We’ve said for many years that something needs to be done to improve safety here for pedestrians, and this bus crash demonstrates that.”
“This is a busy road that is very narrow in parts, especially when buses, delivery lorries and wide caravans are using it. The amount of traffic going into Brean is high during holiday periods and clearly a footpath is needed for the safety of those walking along it.”
She added: “Unfortunately, we have this week lost the £80,000 of funding that was awarded to us for the path through the ‘Paths For Communities Fund’, run by the EU and Government.”
“Sadly, the feedback from the golf club meant we could not proceed with the project in the timescales needed to spend the funds, which has been incredibly frustrating and deflating. However, the campaign goes on.”
Several other accidents have occurred in Coast Road during recent years, including a two-car crash in 2012, reported here, a bike collision in 2008 here, and a 2010 accident here where the bus stop was demolished by a car.
The bus was left teetering on the edge of the ditch following the incident
The bus was left teetering at a 45 degree angle in the ditch
The bus was finally towed away by a recovery service later on Thursday
More photos from the scene of Thursday’s bus crash in Berrow
