ACTION is being taken to improve road safety for public footpath users at an accident black spot on the A286 in Brook.

Guildford resident Christopher Breach, 80, tragically lost his life on November 21, when the Alfa Romeo he was driving hit a brick wall at the entrance to Rockwood Estate on a sharp bend on the brow of the hill.

Emergency services were called at around 11am, but Mr Breach was declared dead at the scene of the single vehicle collision.

An inquest was opened and adjourned on December 6.

Godalming and Haslemere Ramblers Association is now calling for the public footpath that exits onto the A286 next to the estate entrance to be diverted as soon as possible.

The group’s footpath secretary Ian Wills told The Herald: “Sadly, in November, an elderly resident died when his car left the A286 outside Rockwood Estate.”

“This is not the only instance of motorists, especially motorcyclists, misjudging this corner.

“The ramblers have been working closely with the landowner to divert public footpath no. 139 away from having its exit out on to the A286 at this point.

“An application has been lodged to divert and extend the footpath.”

The landowner, businessman Martin Shaw – whose family runs the Old Thorns Hotel and golf club near Liphook – has generously offered to divert and add a one-kilometre extension over his land, to link the footpaths emerging from above Brook and Sandhills to Witley and Thursley Commons, via the Witley Park Lodge crossroads.

Mr Wills urged people to support the endeavour, by emailing their support to Eniko Nadas at Surrey Countryside Access – write to eniko.nadas@surreycc. gov.uk

•Anyone who may have been in the area around 11am on November 21 and seen the car involved in the fatal accident is asked to call Surrey Police on 101.