Campaigners hope for Lowgate safety measures as lasting legacy to…

Hull City Council’s transport chief is to meet officials to discuss safety measures as calls to improve road safety on Lowgate intensify following the tragic death of Rebecca Kirby. Rebecca, known as Becks, died after she was struck by a car while crossing the road while out with friends on the evening of August 27, 2021. Her death sparked a campaign to close Lowgate on Friday and Saturday nights and now a Hull coroner is issuing a Prevention of Deaths report to see if safety improvements can be made. An inquest was held into the 31-year-old’s death on Wednesday. Shortly after Becks died, there were calls for further measures to prevent something like this happening again. Read more: Tragic death of Rebecca Kirby prompts renewed safety calls for Hull’s Lowgate Now, the council’s portfolio holder for transportation Mark Ieronimo has vowed to look into the issue and will meet officials in the coming weeks. He said: “The passing of Rebecca Kirby was a tragedy. In relation to the Lowgate area, I am meeting with officers and have been assured that council officials are exploring all the options available. The council is committed to looking into this and listening to people across the city.” City of Hull Street Angels has been calling for Lowgate and the likes of Dagger Lane to be closed for some years. Trustee Carole Fenny has welcomed Area Coroner Lorraine Harrison’s decision to issue a ‘Prevention of Deaths’ report. She said: “We have raised concerns about this time and again over the years, even before the tragic death of Becks. She has lost her life due to safety issues on Lowgate. I am still campaigning but I have had no response from the council so far. “But I am extremely pleased the coroner has issued a report into this which will hopefully ensure the problems on Lowgate are looked at more closely. “We are still continuing this campaign and won’t stop. We want the road to be closed on Friday and Saturday night between 10pm and 3am. We have a duty of care to our pedestrians and visitors. “It will cost nothing and we have devised a route of road closures which would not impact the city centre or Humber Street and not affect nearby residents. But if this is not possible then other measures should be put in place at least.” Tributes to Rebecca Lisa Kirby have flooded in after her tragic death The inquest heard how the driver involved in the collision was faced with several distractions, from disco lights coming from nearby bars, taxis waiting with headlights on and pedestrians encroaching on the carriageway. Serious collision investigator Stephen Youngson also said Becks was masked by the taxi rank which meant the driver saw her too late. Two door supervisors from O’Leary’s were at the scene at the time. One of them witnessed the collision and both were quickly on the scene to help. But both staff members raised concerns about the safety of revellers trying to cross the road at Lowgate. One of them said: “In this area, it is just an accident waiting to happen. People are leaving bars in a drunken state and some don’t even look when crossing the road.” The other staff member added: “There is a taxi rank outside O’Leary’s which doesn’t help. It is no exaggeration to say we get six-12 incidents and near misses every Friday and Satu
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