A CORONER has backed widespread concerns over the lack of pedestrian safety on the Kingsdown crossroads after an inquest found a young mum died while trying to cross and dodge traffic.

Nina Maggs tragically died on February 23 as she made her way to collect her young daughter.

As she tried to cross the busy junction in between a road sweeper and taxi, with an empty buggy in tow, she was hit by a sweeper lorry. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

At the inquest into her death in Salisbury yesterday, senior coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon David Ridley told the court that despite the day in question being windier than usual, the weather did not play any part in the 32-year-old’s death.

Instead, he said he would be writing a report, to be sent to Swindon Borough Council, to flag up the lack of measures to enable pedestrians to cross safely at the junction to prevent further deaths from happening.

Mr Ridley’s promise to raise awareness over the lack of safety comes months after a petition, signed by more than 2,000 people, was started by residents amid similar fears.

The inquest heard the the driver of the road sweeper, Jack Cady, was behind a taxi, wishing to turn right out of Hyde Road into Beechcroft Road, when the incident happened.

“I was aware of him turning right and he got to the middle of the junction and we have both gone beyond a crossing line that is there,” he said.

“The taxi driver then went [to turn] and I went immediately after. I felt a bump and that’s when I got out.”

Mr Cady, who has been driving road sweeper lorries since 1989, informed Mr Ridley that there were clear signs on the back of his sweeper to inform other drivers that it was a left-handed driven vehicle.

But that factor along with Nina’s 5ft 2in height meant that she was hidden from Mr Cady’s view.

Mr Ridley said with all contributing factors, he was concerned that pedestrians had to second guess when it was safe to cross.

He added: “The controls [at the crossings] do not seem to resemble any protection for pedestrians like a pelican crossing would, which would give an indication to the person trying to cross that the road is safe to do so.

“For some reason there is this huge gap of seven metres from the junction to the lights.

“The crossing gives a false sense to anyone who uses it that it is safe to cross.”

“I am going to send a letter whoever is responsible at Swindon Borough Council in relation to highways airing these concerns because it needs to be looked at.

"It was more likely than not that due to the presence of the ‘a’ pillar and her height, her actions went unnoticed by the driver even when she was in front of the lorry because the bottom of the windscreen stood taller.”

Nina’s husband, Nicholas, backed Mr Ridley’s concerns and told the court that he would normally be the one to collect their daughter.

He hopes that changes are made so that all the lights turn red for at least 15 seconds to allow people to cross.

PC Phil Reese, collision investigator for Tri-Force, also echoed Mr Ridley’s safety concerns and added: “It is like an unfinished project and it is like they [the council] have started to put a crossing in and left it for whatever reason.”

Mr Ridley will also be writing a second report to call for regulations to be introduced in regards to signage for left-hand drive commercial vehicles.

“It needs to be clearly marked for all people and not just people behind a left-hand drive vehicle and it concerns me that there is no regulation in place,” he said.

Swindon Borough Council say they have already planned new changes to the crossroads to address safety issues.

Coun Mary Martin, Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member for communities and place, said: “This was a terrible, tragic accident and my officers have since reviewed the operation of the Kingsdown Crossroads junction and the crossing facilities to see what improvements could be made.

“The review concluded that there are options to provide dedicated pedestrian phases and we will be sharing these with ward councillors, parish councillors and residents very soon.

"However, any changes will have some impact on wider traffic movement, which is why we are initiating this consultation.

“We will respond to any other concerns raised by the Coroner on receipt of his report.”

Coun Joe Tray, who is the ward councillor for Upper Stratton, said while he welcomes the council’s changes, it is a sad case of too little too late.

“Sadly it has taken this tragedy to get something done," he said.

“I understand these changes will impact on traffic but at what cost of a life? I would rather have people sit in their cars for an extra few seconds longer than have parents and children be at risk.”

The court heard that Nina, who suffered with MS, had suffered multiple traumatic injuries as a result of being hit and, despite best efforts from drivers and paramedics, she could not be saved.

Mr Ridley concluded that the cause of death was by road traffic collision.