Parachute jump in memory of brother (From Witney Gazette)

Parachute jump in memory of brother

7:04am Tuesday 14th August 2007 in Witney By David Horne

A WOMAN who lost her young brother on a notorious road in West Oxfordshire is determined to carry on her campaign for safety measures.

Paula Franklin has so far raised £1,350 from her first parachute jump last month in memory of 21-year-old James Franklin.

He was killed in November last year, following a collision on the A415, outside Cokethorpe School, near Ducklington.

And last week, she revealed her family have even more reason to demand action, because a cousin was also seriously injured on the same road.

"That was five years ago, and he was left paralysed. He was riding a motorbike on the same stretch of road, and is now in a wheelchair," said mother-of-one Paula, 28.

"And, before that, when I was small, my nan had an accident on her moped there. Obviously, James' death has been traumatic, but it was not our first bad experience of the road.

"We are missing him more and more, it still brings tears to the eyes. I did the jump on July 1, the day before what would have been his 22nd birthday."

Paula, of Highworth Place, Witney, planned to do the sponsored parachute jump to raise money for safety improvements.

But she realises the work and costs are the responsibility of the highways authority. Instead, she is donating the proceeds to Brake, a national charity which supports families of fatal and serious road accident victims and also campaigns for safer roads.

James was the fifth person to die on the road in three years.

Just over a month later, on December 21 last year, it claimed another victim, when Paolo dos Santos, 39, from Banbury, was killed along the same stretch, when the van he was driving and a double-decker bus were in collision.

Oxfordshire County Council has imposed a 50mph speed limit on the road, while Cokethorpe School has contributed to vehicle-activated signs to slow people down near the school.

But Paula believes the section near Cokethorpe School, with a series of bends, should be straightened out.

"Widening the road is not the answer, because that would just encourage motorists to go faster, and I'm not convinced speed cameras would help that much," she added.

"I used to live at Stanton Harcourt, so I know the road really well. There have been enough deaths on it, and we can't sit back and do nothing."

The county council has promised to spend money on improvements, yet to be decided, in next year's budget.