RESIDENTS were shocked by the death this week of one of Haslemere’s leading lights, following a road traffic accident on Monday.

Former mayor James Mackie, affectionately known as ‘Mr Haslemere’ for his long and devoted service to the community, was crossing at the junction of the High Street and Shepherds Hill, just after 12.30pm, on Monday, when he was hit by a car.

Surrey Police are appealing for witnesses to the collision, which involved a blue Nissan Micra car travelling along Lower Street towards the High Street.

The elderly driver was shaken but unhurt.

Mr Mackie, who had just celebrated his 90th birthday, suffered serious head injuries. He was taken to the specialist neurological unit at St George’s Hospital, Tooting, but died on Tuesday morning.

His family was with him.

Surrey Air Ambulance South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) police, and a crew from Haslemere’s fire station attended the scene following an emergency callout at 12.40pm.

The air ambulance landed nearby in the Town Meadow recreation ground and the doctor and helicopter emergency medical services doctor and paramedic provided critical care at the scene.

They accompanied Mr Mackie to St George’s by road in the SECAmb ambulance, SECAmb also sent a support car to the incident.

Road closures remained in place with all A286 traffic diverted away from the High Street for several hours.

A Surrey Police spokesman said: “Officers are continuing to appeal for anyone who may have witnessed the collision or saw the events leading up to it to come forward as a matter of urgency.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Surrey Police’s collision investigation unit on (01483) 639922 or call Crimestoppers charity – anonymously, if they wish – on 0800 555111.

Monday’s fatal accident has reignited calls for a 20mph speed reduction through Haslemere in view of the dangers of the narrowness of the A286 Shepherds Hill junction with Haslemere High Street and the volume of traffic.

Poignantly, Mr Mackie wrote to The Herald last year to voice his concerns about road safety in the town, following the launch of a speed reduction campaign in 2014 by local resident Victoria Leake, backed by county councillor Nikki Barton.

Mrs Leake originally led calls for a crossing in Lower Street in 2006 and launched a petition to Surrey County Council, which gathered 1,200 signatures and resulted in the installation of a zebra crossing in 2007.

Road safety campaigners pushed for a 20mph speed limit to be imposed in Lower Street, following a traffic accident at Haslemere station, in October 2014, in which a 17-year-old girl suffered serious head injuries after she was in collision with a car.

Campaigners launched a petition on Surrey County Council’s website calling for a 20mph zone to be implemented after four fatal and seriously injury incidents that had occurred in Lower Street since 2010 on a stretch of road less than a mile long.

Campaigners petitioned for the introduction of a Siemen safezone speed camera in Haslemere, following a speed check by Surrey Police in Shepherds Hill,

Officers recorded more than 70 per cent of vehicles were speeding with some speeds reaching 59 mph in a 30mph area.

Speaking to The Herald following Mr Mackie’s death, Mrs Barton said: “I knew James well and I am hugely concerned another pedestrian has died following a collision in Haslemere, after the fatal accident in Wey Hill last year.

“One of my key priorities is how to improve pedestrian safety in Haslemere.

“I am concerned the policy is not pro-active but reactive. This further tragic accident confirms what so many are asking for, which is that traffic speeds through our town centre should be looked at again.

“I will continue to press for a speed reduction and keep raising the issue, and I call upon borough and town councillors to support me in this. James’s words about road traffic safety are very poignant.”