PENSIONERS living in Cirencester Court have stepped up their campaign to bring in further traffic calming measures in Drove Road.

The Cirencester Court Management Committee have been campaigning for years to prevent speeding along Drove Road near the crossing where seven-year-old Tyrese Hannah was killed in 2008 and where a driver had a lucky escape after smashing into it earlier this month.

About three years ago the council introduced a road safety scheme and changed the layout of the road, narrowing a stretch, putting in barriers and installing 30mph flashing signs.

They also installed wiring for a pedestrian crossing and moved the bus stop further down the road.

But residents say anyone getting off the the bus often has to step into the middle of the road.

Barrie Thompson, the vice-chairman of the Cirencester Court Management Group, said: “Some residents are in their 90s and a number have to use walking aids to get across the road, that was why we campaigned for a pedestrian controlled crossing.

“On completion of the scheme the traffic did slow down in both directions but, as my committee predicted, the traffic now goes as fast as it ever did.”

Tyrese’s mother Caroline said: “They are still speeding up and down there and I support their campaign 100 per cent.

“They won’t admit it but Tyrese’s death was a statistic Swindon Council needed before they would do anything about it.”

Margaret Gwennap, another resident of Cirencester Court, regularly uses the bus but said: “The bus stop means I have to stop in the middle of the road, and I ask the drivers if they can drop me a little further up so I can get on to the pavement. Most of them do but others say they have to stop at the bus stop.”

Other residents said often when they crossed the road at the central island, they found themselves stuck there.

A Swindon Council spokesman said: “Our statistics show since the road safety scheme was introduced there have been no injury-related accidents that we are aware of on this particular stretch of Drove Road.

“However, we are mindful of the concerns expressed by residents of Cirencester Court regarding the bus stop and we have been asking bus drivers to drop passengers off further up the road so they alight on to the pavement.

“We will look into the possibility of moving the bus stop in the longer term.

“Requests to install pedestrian crossings are added to an annual review. If we receive requests from members of the public or councillors we will include Drove Road in our next review.”