DOCTORS and residents have teamed up to call for the speed limit to be lowered on a stretch of road where one person was killed and another seriously injured.

In January 2008, Betty Ashley, 85, of Courtenay Road, Wantage, was killed on Mably Way, Grove, after a collision with a green Citroën Saxo at a pelican crossing.

And on January 21, this year, a young woman was involved in a collision with a car, outside the nearby Mably Way Health Centre.

It was only through the quick intervention of GP Dr Phillip Ambler that the woman, who suffered life-threatening injuries, survived.

Now, in a bid to save lives, staff at the centre want the speed limit along the half-mile stretch of road to be cut from 40mph to 30mph.

Recalling the accident, Dr Ambler said: “I heard a car screech to a halt and a thump at the traffic lights. A young woman was unconscious.”

He added: “Staff at the centre feel the speed limit needs reducing.

“There are a number of vulnerable people – including mothers with children, and elderly residents – crossing that road.

“We think it would be safer for them if motorists were travelling at 10mph less.”

Since January 2001 there have been four collisions in Mably Way, which runs between Denchworth Road and Grove Road.

In September 2004, a car travelling at speed to evade police, swerved to avoid a pedestrian and hit a lamppost.

In July 2005, the driver of a car approaching the A338 roundabout hit a pedestrian crossing the road.

A number of measures are now being considered by Oxfordshire County Council, the highways authority, to tackle the problem.

They include bright yellow reflector boards which would be placed behind the traffic lights at the crossing, signs highlighting the medical centre, and road markings at the centre entrance.

The road already has an anti-skid surface and sensors which prevent the traffic lights from changing to red if a car is travelling at more than 35mph.

Oxfordshire county councillor Jenny Hannaby said: “I am hoping we can come up with some positive steps to ensure people can use the crossing safely.

“We have had numerous complaints about the difficulty for people crossing the roads.

“All the other roads around Mably Way have 30mph limits.

“We need to look at this seriously before there is another accident.”

Fellow county councillor Zoe Patrick said: “We have got a busy medical centre entrance and people have said they find it difficult trying to turn right out on to Mably Way, as they have to cross the path of oncoming traffic.”

Don Summers, 67, of Hawthorn Crescent, Grove, said: “As motorists come from Denchworth Road, the road curves and there is a large hedgerow.

“Motorists are unable to see the pelican crossing until quite late because of the obstruction.”

Geoff Chown, of Mayfield Avenue, Grove, added: “Something has to be done but it has got to be the right option.”

didcot@oxfordmail.co.uk