PENSIONER Robert Berry says he and fellow residents at Fitzwarren Court take their lives in their own hands every time they need to catch a bus.

The 77-year-old is appalled that he and his elderly neighbours at the assisted living apartments are expected to walk along the busy Kingsdown Lane main road if they have any hope of using public transport.

He is also puzzled why no footpaths were installed when the development was first built and why there is only one entrance, which poses further problems because the road is so narrow it only caters for one car.

Robert says he has witnessed motorists having to reverse back into the main road because another car is coming out and there is not enough space for them both.

“How on earth did they get planning permission?” said the grandfather, who has lived there since 2015.

“We can’t walk off this site or go to the bus stop, it’s impossible. These poor people are trapped.

“Pedestrians walking here have to inch out into 40mph traffic and there is a blind bend further up so cars can’t see.

"We are taking our lives in our own hands. My biggest fear is there is going to be a major accident at this junction.”

Robert has started a petition to present MHA, who operate Fitzwarren House, Stanton Lodge and Fitzwarren Court, and wants the council to take action and create a pavement for pedestrians.

Robert, who wears a hi-vis jacket and jumps on the verge every time a car passes, added: “There is a superb bus service up here but others who are not as agile as me cannot walk to it. They’ve sold this place to us an independent living but it isn’t.”

He has been going round in circles in trying to get someone to take responsibility.

“MHA and the council keep saying it’s not their responsibility but it’s got to be somebody’s responsibility,” he said.

“MHA said they don’t own the land surrounding it and can’t do anything about it. ”

However, Robert has come up with a potential solution. Outline planning permission has been granted for an industrial estate, petrol station, public house and takeaway outlets to be built on adjacent land and that includes plans for a footpath.

The former design draftsman believes the plans should also include a new road to the care home and apartments from Highworth Road.

He said: “It’s a great plan, but we thought it would be started by now. What I can’t understand if why the council can’t say they will give planning permission but they have to make an adequate road.”

A new care home next door has been given the go-ahead but the entrance would be closer to the blind bend which Robert thinks would be “lethal.”

He added: “I’m not a rocket scientist and you don’t have to be a road expert to see the problem.”

A Swindon Borough Council spokesman said: “When the planning application was submitted the option of creating a footpath to the nearby bus stop was considered.

"However, it soon became apparent that the road was not wide enough to support a footpath so it was not possible to install one.”

Charlene Dean, manager at MHA’s Fitzwarren Court, said: “We fully support our residents in this campaign. It’s very positive to see them come together.”