New road safety measures planned for Hull’s Old Town after…

New safety measures could be introduced in the Old Town to help improve the safety of those heading out to pubs and clubs in the area. There have been calls to improve road safety on Lowgate which is a very busy area on Friday and Saturday evenings due to the number of pubs and clubs nearby. The calls have been made following the tragic death of Rebecca Kirby after she was struck by a car while crossing the road during a night out with friends on the evening of August 27, 2021. Her death sparked a campaign to close Lowgate on Friday and Saturday nights and a Hull coroner is issuing a Prevention of Deaths report to see if safety improvements can be made. An inquest held into the 31-year-old’s death in March this year which sparked further calls for measures to prevent something like this happening again. Read more:Another pedestrian struck by car on Hull street at centre of road safety campaign The issues have been highlighted once more after a male pedestrian was struck by a vehicle on Saturday, June 14. He was taken to hospital but, thankfully, he suffered no serious injuries. Now Hull City Council has responded to the Prevention of Deaths report by announcing a list of new safety measures. The council’s Cabinet will consider plans to adopt new road safety measures for the Old Town area of the city centre next month. Based on identified risks arising out of a coroner’s report, the Highway Authority proposes the following measures be considered: Relocation of the existing taxi ranks on Lowgate to Alfred Gelder Street Design of an increased width signalised crossing where Lowgate meets Silver Street and Scale Lane Relocation of the existing crossing facility on Lowgate closer to Market Place Proposal to consider the viability of widening the footpaths on Lowgate between Silver Street and Alfred Gelder St. In addition, it is proposed the wider Old Town area would become a 20mph zone and additional Variable Message Signs would be installed at either end of the zone. The council says that, while data suggests the area has historically low numbers of road traffic accidents, the proposed preventative measures will aim to boost public safety in an area of the city popular for its night-time economy. Hull City Council will consult with external parties on the proposed measures, including HM Coroner, Humberside Police and the Hull Hackney Carriage Association. Rebecca Kirby was much loved by everybody who knew her Portfolio holder for
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