Heartbroken father backs cycle lane plan

An image of Jospehine Gilbert and Bobby Gilbert. Jospehine was killed in a lorry crash at Ashbourne Road in January 2020. Image by Derbyshire Police Details: Josephine Gilbert, who died on the A52 near Markeaton Island in Derby in January 2020, with her father Bobby Gilbert The father of a talented young cyclist who was killed after being hit by a lorry in Derby has paid an emotional tribute to his daughter. Josephine Gilbert was riding along the A52 Ashbourne Road, just off Markeaton Island, when she was struck by an HGV that was being driven by an unlicensed driver. Miss Gilbert, who was just 25, died at the scene of the collision, which took place in January last year. The harrowing incident devastated Miss Gilbert's family, including her dad Bobby Gilbert, who has spoken on camera about how the heartbreak of losing his daughter will last a lifetime.

A new cycle lane close to the spot where a young woman was killed is one step closer to reality – and has the backing of her heartbroken father.

Keen cyclist Josephine Gilbert was killed when hit by a lorry on the A52 Ashbourne Road, near Markeaton Island, in January 2020.

Ms Gilbert, who was living in Derby at the time and had competed in cycling events at local, national and international level,  suffered catastrophic head injuries in the collision and died instantly. She was just 25.

It emerged that the lorry driver, Herbert Wyatt, of Thurnby in Leicestershire, had had his licence to drive lorries revoked 12 weeks before the fatal collision and was therefore uninsured at the time of the tragedy.

He had not told his employer about his licence being revoked.

Wyatt was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison and was disqualified from driving for five years and three months.

Now, more than six years on from the tragedy the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) has announced that “early design work” would be taking place to put a cycle route around the A52 Ashbourne Road and Prince Charles Avenue area.

The exact location of the cycle lane has not yet been confirmed but appears to be close to or at the spot where Ms Gilbert was killed.

The design works are part of funding almost to the tune of £300 million to “transform travel” across the East Midlands.

Ms Gilbert’s father Bobby said he welcomed the plans by EMCCA.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I support good quality cycle lanes that completely separate bikes from traffic and have right of way at all non major junctions.

“Poor quality ones can be counter-productive.

“I was cycling in Holland where all roads are designed with cyclists as first priority. I haven’t seen the plan but if it was approved by a Dutch planner I’d be happy. ”

Derby Cycling Group has also welcomed the plans for Ashbourne Road but said it has seen little information so far on how it will look.

The group has also expressed a desire for new traffic lights on Ashbourne Road, allowing pedestrians to cross the busy road near to the entrance of the McDonald’s restaurant.

Mr Gilbert spoke of the heartbreak of losing his daughter Josephine during an emotional interview with Derbyshire police.

He said: “I’d have liked to have seen her. I’d liked to have been able to say goodbye. And I think it would have helped me accept it at an emotional level, you know?

“It was so, so sudden and for Josephine, that’s probably a good thing that she knew absolutely nothing. Knowing that she knew absolutely nothing, well that is good. But as a person left behind it’s really hard.”

An EMCCA spokesperson said details over the design and specific location of the cycle lane for Ashbourne Road/Prince Charles Avenue “will come through as the business case is developed”.

In Derby, the £298 million transport fund will also look to create cycle routes  on the A38 and Station Road in Mickleover, as well upgrade bus stops and a £4 million scheme to improve Derby Bus Station.