Campaigners finally succeed in demand for crash tree to be felled

A TREE at a notorious accident blackspot was cut down yesterday, eight months after a coroner advised it should be felled.

In 2008 teenagers Ashley Murphy, Leanne Fletcher and Christopher Lake died when the car in which they were travelling came round the bend on the A6135 in Harley, left the road and slammed into the tree.

Three other people died at the same spot between Barnsley and Rotherham in 1995, after their car hit the same tree.

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At the inquest into the deaths of Mr Murphy, Mr Lake and Miss Fletcher last year, Sheffield coroner Chris Dorries said he would write to Barnsley Council to suggest they cut the tree down.

However, it still hadn't been done by Christmas, when more than 50 people – including residents and relatives of those who died at the spot – gathered at the accident site for a protest.

Cynthia Shaw, who lives close to the spot and has been leading the campaign for improved safety on the road, said: "It's a shame we've got to protest before something is done, but having said that we're still grateful it's come down."

Mrs Shaw added that, since the protest was held last month, two new signs for temporary speed cameras had been put up on the bend. She added: "It's a step in the right direction. Hopefully things will now improve."

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