Safety plea after man struck by car near prison

People have called for more road safety measures following the death of a man who was hit by a car outside a prison in Nottinghamshire.

Phillip Tetley, 42, was struck on the Straight Mile outside HMP Ranby, near Retford, on 1 December.

A petition was launched following his death, calling for a pedestrian crossing to be installed along the 50mph road, and claiming the road had long prompted safety concerns.

The Prison Service said it shared concerns about the safety of the road and was "working closely with Nottinghamshire County Council" to explore ways to improve it.

A spokesperson for the county council said the findings of an ongoing police investigation into the crash would be discussed with its Safer Highways team.

The online petition sparked by Mr Tetley's death claimed the Straight Mile had a "high volume of traffic due to its proximity to the overflow car park [for the prison]".

It added: "With no designated pedestrian crossing in place, the safety of numerous prison staff is compromised, and it's only a matter of time before another tragedy occurs."

Caroline Willie, who is from Retford and works in Ranby, said the road needed new safety measures, including additional street lighting.

"I think the road is very fast and it needs something for the prison officers to be able to get to work safely," the 58-year-old said.

"There's a family out there grieving, and we need to try and stop this happening to another family."

Gary Gilding, 59, who lives off Straight Mile, said he had witnessed the aftermath of a number of collisions along the road.

"I've stood out on the road there myself directing traffic because [of a crash]," he said.

He believes the council should invest in a footbridge over the carriageway.

The Category C men's prison is currently undergoing an extension, which Mr Gilding said was another reason to install a crossing.

"There's going to be more and more staff [travelling to the site] - and not just staff but doctors, solicitors, nurses," he said.

Emily McNeil, who manages the Chequers Inn pub near the prison, added: "Something like a footbridge would be a really good idea. It's such a busy road."

In a tribute released by Nottinghamshire Police, Mr Tetley's family described him as "the kindest and most thoughtful man and friend to many".

The family added: "Phil was a much-loved husband, son and father to four and stepfather to three."

A spokesperson for the county council said: "We are deeply saddened to hear about the recent fatal collision on Straight Mile in Ranby and our thoughts are with the families of those involved.

"As with any collision of this nature, we work closely with the police who lead on the investigation to determine the circumstances.

"Once that has been concluded, the findings will be discussed with our Safer Highways team who will action any recommendations or carry out our own further investigations as necessary.

"They look for any recurring patterns in the contributory factors relating to the accidents and where appropriate, develop new schemes or improvements to reduce these in the future."

An investigation into the crash is ongoing.

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