By Stefan Morkis and Maura Bowman

THE CAMPAIGN for a pedestrian crossing at a junction that claimed the life of a Dundee pensioner on Monday gathered momentum yesterday.

Neighbours of accident victim Gordon Melville added their voices to the call from Craigiebank residents, community representatives and local politicians for a safe crossing point at the Scott Fyfe roundabout.

Mr Melville, of Huntly Place, died while trying to cross Kingsway East in the late afternoon.

Fraser Turnbull, a neighbour in the same block of flats, agreed that the time had come for a pedestrian crossing to be installed.

Mr Turnbull (47) said that the road was difficult to cross for anyone—whatever their age.

“I have trouble crossing over the Kingsway and I think the council should be putting our council tax towards a crossing rather than wasting it,” he said.

“Traffic comes at you from all directions and there definitely should be a proper crossing there.”

The Rev Mike Mair from Craigiebank Church helped organised a petition calling for a pedestrian crossing to be built after the Morrisons supermarket on Arbroath Road closed down.

More than 500 residents from the Craigiebank area signed the petition, and Monday’s accident has renewed the clamour for a new crossing.

Mr Mair is on holiday in Spain, but was made aware of the accident. Speaking yesterday, he said he was shocked by Mr Melville’s death but said it showed the urgent need for a pedestrian crossing.

The nearest safe crossing over the Kingsway is the footpath over the road at its junction with Pitkerro Road, over half a mile away.

He said, “We had predicted that the crossing would prove dangerous but we didn’t predict it would be fatal.

“There were promises and expressions of intent from politicians about the supermarket but there was really no strong response with regards to the pedestrian crossing.

“The residents’ association have been raising this issue for a number of years so there’s no doubt that proves that the campaign was justified.

“I can only hope that the city council and the Scottish Executive now look at this as a matter of urgency.”

Politicians also backed the call for a fresh look to be taken at road safety in the area.

Dundee East MSP Shona Robison said, “Having witnessed the immediate aftermath of the accident yesterday, I am more convinced than ever that we need to look at some kind of safer route for pedestrians...

“It is very difficult, even for a fit, young person, to get across that road because of the speed of the traffic.”

Craigiebank councillor John Corrigan has already pledged to seek an urgent meeting with senior council officials.