Fury after crash-scene lamppost removed
THE mothers of two dead girls are furious after a lamppost at the spot their daughters were killed was removed in a row over flowers.
Danielle Martin, known as DJ, and Kelly Goring were among five teenagers who died instantly when a stolen car they were inside crashed on Battle Road, St Leonards, three years ago.
Family and friends have since been tying bouquets of flowers to the lamppost at the crash scene in their memory.
But fears that motorists were being distracted by the tributes and complaints by a couple living nearby led to the lamppost being taken away by East Sussex County Council officials in the early hours of Wednesday - the day that would have been DJ's 20th birthday.
"My daughter lay on that pavement after the crash and that's why I will continue leaving flowers there on the anniversary of her death, even with the lamppost gone," said DJ's mother Coral Pasqua, of Quebec Road.
Kelly's mother, Sue Goring, also of Quebec Road, slammed the council's actions.
"The way they have about this very underhand," she said, after receiving a council letter on Wednesday informing her of its actions during the night.
"I think it's disgusting they didn't let us know beforehand. It's important my daughter can be remembered where she died."
The mothers say that families of the other crash victims, Daniel Carwardine, 16, Lee Morgan, 14, and Barrie Mackay, 15, also leave floral tributes on the lamppost.
East Sussex County Council said the post was removed at night to prevent any confrontations and the move came after three years of discussions with the grieving families over flowers left there.
It says a Sussex-wide policy introduced in 2006 only allows floral tributes at accident spots for 12 weeks and after that time they must be moved.
Council officials say special dispensation was offered allowing flowers to be put on the Battle Road lamppost for 24hours on the anniversary of the crash, but this was ignored with bouquets being placed there throughout the year.
Some flowers were also attached high up on the post using a step ladder so the safety of council officials were being put at risk when removing them, according to the council.
It added that a further offer to set up a permanent granite memorial in Wishing Tree was declined by families.
A council spokesman said: "We do understand the laying of flowers and tributes at the scene of a crash is an important part of the grieving process for some families, but as the local Highway Authority we have to consider everyone who uses the roads.
"We've been working with the families involved for more than three years to try and find a solution that looks after their needs as well as the needs of the community, including the offer of a permanent memorial away from the road.
"We understand it's distressing for the families, but there's never a good time to do this, it was never going to be an easy thing to do; and we wanted to wait until after the three year anniversary.
"We want to continue working with the families to try and resolve the situation, and if at any time in the future they'd like to take up our offer of a permanent memorial we'd be happy to talk with them again."
A shelter and plaque in memory of the Hollington crash victims already exists in Wishing Tree playing fields.
A spokesman for Sussex Police said: "Sussex Police are aware of the sensitivities surrounding the removal of the lamppost in Battle Road where five young people lost their lives.
"Quite rightly, this is a matter for the Highways Authority and we are aware that East Sussex County Council have been working with the families involved and local residents on this issue."
Diana and Chris Farrell, who have complained to the council about the flowers on the lamppost outside their Battle Road home, refused to comment.
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Weather for Lewes
Thursday 24 May 2012
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