AN EMOTIONAL protest with an important safety message was held to mark one year since a motorcyclist's tragic death.

Richard Hallett, 25, was killed in a crash with a van on the Poundbury estate last September.

Following the crash and the inquest into Mr Hallett's death, his mother Tina Cooper has campaigned for improved traffic measures, particularly at the junction of Lower Blakemere Road and Harewood Road where the crash occurred.

Mrs Cooper returned to the site for the protest.

It comes after assistant coroner for Dorset Brendan Joseph Allen called for action to prevent further deaths on the estate.

He wrote to the Duchy of Cornwall about improving traffic measures, saying: "During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern.

"In my opinion urgent action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you and/or your organisation have the power to take such action."

He raised concerns in a report that there were no road markings to indicate which vehicle has the right of way when reaching a junction.

It also cites a lack of parking restrictions on Lower Blakemere Road, meaning that drivers have to enter the opposite lane, which reduces their sightlines when approaching the junction.

Speaking at the protest, Mrs Cooper echoed the concerns and said that she and others want clearer signage and road markings throughout Poundbury, and for the roads to be legally adopted by Dorset Council.

"I'm just totally bereft", Mrs Cooper said, pointing at the road – "that's where my son lay dying.

"The crash investigators said they'd never seen anything like it. It's a death trap – the only way to resolve the situation is for the roads to be legally adopted by the council.

"We're doing the protest for my son and all the other families around here."

A spokesman for the Duchy of Cornwall said: “We have submitted a proposal to Dorset Council and we are awaiting their comments."

Neil Turner, Dorset Highways Development Team Leader, said: “We are continuing to assist the Duchy and developers in the review of this particular junction to assess what, if any, specific measures can be taken.

“Drivers should be adhering to speed limits and keeping to the Highway Code – which includes not parking within ten metres of a junction."

During the inquest the coroner said neither driver was travelling at an ‘excessive speed’ towards the junction, but both had 'poor sight lines' as a result of nearby buildings and parked cars.