ROAD bosses have responded to the Free Press campaign to prevent another tragic lorry crash in High Wycombe town centre by agreeing to consider readers' suggestions to improve safety.

Maggie Doel, 48, of Lacey Green, and Sally Jamieson, 40, of Stokenchurch, were killed when a lorry lost control on Amersham Hill and smashed into Aitchisons estate agents in Easton Street, on June 14.

The highways department of Buckinghamshire County Council said it has been inundated with people contacting staff.

A spokesman for the council said councillors would look at public suggestions as well as views from experts on improving safety.

The Free Press last week called for readers to write in with their views, although we made it clear that we do not wish to pre-empt any investigations into the cause of this accident.

The aim of our campaign is to prevent any further crashes on the hill which has had a long history of accidents.

Suggestions have included new speed restrictions, more warning signs and a run-off area for lorries in the middle of Queen Victoria Road.

Alan Hayes, of Curzon Avenue, Hazlemere, was injured in an accident involving a lorry on Amersham Hill more than 40 years ago and is distressed that accidents are still happening there.

He said: "All HGVs should have speed restrictions imposed including a maximum speed limit of 20mph for vehicles over 7.5 tonnes on Amersham Hill."

He also criticised overhanging foliage in front of existing warning signs on the road.

Stuart Shields, of Cedar Avenue, Hazlemere, said: "I find it incredible that the powers that be have not considered a runaway lorry on the hill. Does it take people's deaths before people put their brains into gear and fit a crash barrier at the bottom of the hill?"

Wycombe district councillor Peter Cartwright (Con, Keep Hill and Hicks Farm) criticised the county council.

He said: "I was concerned when they built a refuge for pedestrians on the traffic island at the bottom of the hill. There have been plans to put a bus lane in the street."

He said routing lorries away from Amersham Hill would not be very easy.

"If you did that you would have lorries going through residential areas like Hammersley Lane and that is full of problems and sometimes the other hills are actually steeper than Amersham Hill."

He added that after a similar accident in 1958 a lorry escape lane was added by the county council further up Amersham Hill.

A county council spokesman said yesterday: "We will take on board new information from the investigation and may re-investigate the lay-out."

If you have a suggestion on how to improve safety in the Crendon Street area, write to: Clare Bourke, News Editor, Bucks Free Press, Gomm Road, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP13 7DW