A WORRIED pensioner said an electricity pylon has been given more protection than pedestrians near a busy city roundabout where out-of-control cars have already crashed off the road.
Alec Mackie, 84, regularly walks along the 'orbital pedway', the footpath running alongside the Ketch roundabout in Worcester but calls for a barrier have so far been rejected.
However, he and others feel 'defenceless' at a spot where HGVs hurtle past and several cars have left the road as calls are made for barriers to be installed.
The former journalist and press officer asks why an electricity pylon is protected by both a brick wall (lined with concrete) and a metal barrier when pedestrians on the Broomhall Way pedway enjoy no such safeguards.
Both Mr Mackie and St Peter's Parish Council vice-chairman John Renshaw have pointed out tyre marks on a grass verge next to the roundabout and scratch marks on the path itself which they say has been caused by vehicles leaving the roundabout.
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Mr Mackie, who walks with two sticks after he was recently discharged from Worcestershire Royal Hospital, said: "I feel defenceless when I go on my daily walk around here.
"There is no protection for the several hundred pedestrians including mums and dads with pushchairs and the likes of me and John.
"High-speed traffic comes around the Ketch Island and there is no protection whatsoever. One day, unless something is done, our fears will come to fruition.
"When you consider the money, thousands and thousands of pounds, spent on reinforced concrete protection for an electricity pylon, are pylons more important than people?"
Mr Renshaw even said Worcestershire County Council has suggested a diversion route for pedestrians, advertised with signage, rather than barriers.
"I wish they put as much thought into protecting pedestrians and cyclists as they did the pylon," he said.
"On three occasions in the last 18 months residents, including Alec, have contacted me about three incidents where cars have left the carriageway and ended up in this area.
"The parish council has raised it with the county council. They don't want to put a barrier in here. It seems the reason is, if there is a barrier here and a car hits it, that car will bounce back into the carriageway."
Both Mr Mackie and Mr Renshaw have also pointed out that there is only one pedestrian crossing in the area installed by the Toby Carvery.
A spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council, said it offered to investigate an alternative route for the cycleway.
"Any such change would be subject to a suitable alternative route being identified and there being no significant objections from cyclists. Some minor changes to road markings were made at the roundabout following recent improvement works, which the Parish Council was also made aware of.
"The design of the roundabout has been subject to a rigorous Road Safety Audit process, however, we always keep these things under review.”
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