Road safety campaigners have had to grimly say: "we told you so," after a man's death on a danger route.

A pedestrian, believed to have been hit by a car, was killed in Frith Road, Dover, last Saturday.

Two people have since been arrested and it is not yet know exactly what was behind this tragedy.

But Augusta Pearson and her husband Paul, of the Tower Hamlets Community Forum, had repeatedly warned that cars go too fast along the Barton Road and Frith Road one way route.

They have over the last few years constantly asked Kent County Council for speed controls such as reducing the limit to 20mph.

The route has a direct or indirect effect on eight schools.

Mrs Pearson, of nearby Branch Street, told Kent Online: "It's time someone took responsibility. People have to be safe. But no action has been taken and someone has died.

"I would say to anybody who is against reducing the limit are you prepared to offer up one of your relatives to an accident?"

In February 2017 hundreds of people signed a petition organised by the THCF for traffic calming on the route.

The group described the A256 passage, which has a blind bend, as a "race track" with multiple hazards.

They explained said that speeding cars weaved in and out of the traffic and parked cars on either side of the road could affect the views of drivers.

Motorists could suddenly see mothers with pushchairs coming out between vehicles.

Just before Christmas 2016 a car speeding along Barton Road went straight over the junction and hit another car at Castle Avenue.

Three schools are directly on the route, Barton and Charlton primaries and Dover Grammar School for Girls.

Those close by are St Edmund's RC secondary, St Richard's RC primary and Shatterlocks primary.

THCF said that pupils from Dover Grammar School for Boys and Astor College were also affected by walking through the area to get to their schools.

A Kent County Council spokesman said at the time: “We prioritise available resources on where measures will have the most effect.

“At the current time Barton Road and Frith Road do not meet the intervention criteria for action but we will continue to monitor this location.”

Paul Pearson had individually made warnings, such as in a letter to the Mercury in September 2018.

He wrote: "Barton Road into Frith Road and on into Charlton Green are particularly dangerous with cars going through walls, fences and into the pelican crossing.

"I do not know how many times I have seen cars race round these corners sideways."

A Kent County Council spokesman said this: “We are very sorry to hear a pedestrian was killed on Frith Road, Dover and our thoughts are with the man’s family and friends.

“KCC analyses crash data supplied by Kent Police to identify and potentially address roads that could receive further safety engineering measures.

“Managing the speed of traffic is essential to continue reducing the number of and severity of casualties on our roads.

“Kent Police is responsible for the enforcement of speed limits.

“We are happy to consider all requests for changes to roads, including the introduction of 20mph limits.

"Further information can be found at www.kent.gov.uk/highways”

What led to last weekend's tragedy continues to be investigated and police are appealing for witnesses,.

They explained that the crash happened at about 5.40pm and involved a red Peugeot 207 and a man in his 50s.

The man was treated by the South East Coast Ambulance Service for serious injuries but died at the scene.

Officers say that vehicle believed to be involved in the collision was found abandoned in Astley Avenue near the allotments.

A 31-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman, both from the Dover area, were arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

They were initially placed in custody but later bailed, pending further enquiries, until December 5.

The man killed has not so far been named.

A Kent Police spokesman said: "Investigating officers would like to hear from anyone who saw the car or the pedestrian in the moments leading up to the collision or afterwards, or who have dash cam footage from the area that was recorded around the time of the incident."

Anyone with information should call Kent Police’s Serious Collison Investigation Unit on 01622 798538 quoting the reference number DB/RF/118/19.

Alternatively email sciu.td@kent.police.uk

Read more: All the latest news from Dover