A CHICANE designed to improve road safety is being altered following a fatal crash.

Former St Gregory the Great Catholic School pupil Sidney Spiers, 19, from Kennington, died in hospital after the crash in Horspath, Oxford, on October 1.

He was travelling with four friends in a red Fiat Punto when it crashed into a ditch in Cuddesdon Road and collided with a brick footbridge.

A 17-year-old and three 19-year-olds were also injured.

Oxfordshire County Council has agreed to remove half the chicane at the Wheatley Road end of Cuddesdon Road at the request of the parish council.

County council spokesman Marcus Mabberley said: “The proposed work will involve the removal of the kerb on the eastbound side of the road at the chicane, meaning traffic travelling that way will have priority over westbound traffic.

“We hope to have the work completed in the next couple of months.”

Mr Mabberley said the total cost had not yet been finalised.

Members of Horspath Parish Council declined to be interviewed by the Oxford Mail, but released a statement on the village website on the history of the traffic calming measures in the road.

In 1993 more than 500 residents signed a petition asking the parish council to introduce speed restrictions on the roads approaching the village.

As part of the safety measures costing £50,000, the council agreed to fund two chicanes for Cuddesdon Road and two sets of white wooden gates on the verges.

County Hall agreed to adopt and maintain them.

The statement also read: “Horspath Parish Council is not responsible for the highway design, construction and maintenance of the traffic calming measures in Cuddesdon Road, but it does have a responsibility to represent to Oxfordshire County Council the views and concerns of Horspath residents about road safety in Horspath, and to request the assistance of the county council to improve road safety when it is found to be inadequate.

“It is currently requesting such assistance in improving the road safety in Cuddesdon Road.”

Rodney Rose, the county’s cabinet member for transport, said: “We are removing half the chicane at the request of the parish council.”