A woman devastated by the death of a loved one who was hit by a car has started a petition to target the dangerous stretch of road.

London Road in Northfleet has seen numerous accidents including fatalities.

Sifa Rifat, 88, was the latest casualty. She was involved in an accident while walking across the road from her home in the sheltered housing block Cleveland House, to the bus stop opposite back in May.

Pakize Guvenc looked after her for 16 years, and was heartbroken when she heard the news, having seen her just the morning before over breakfast.

The 41-year-old, who is originally from Turkey, said: “Sifa wasn’t my real grandmother, but I looked after her for so long, she became my Nan. She was my family here and we became very close.

“I told her so many times, ‘be careful of that road, people go too fast’, and I’d offer to call her a taxi instead. But she liked getting the bus, she wanted to keep her independence.

“Her death has made me so sad. She was such a big part of my life.”

Mum-of-one Miss Guvenc, of Stonebridge Road, Northfleet, has now started a petition. Signed by more than 200 people, with sheets still to be collected in, it calls for improved safety.

While Mrs Rifat’s death is still being investigated, and it is not known if speed was an issue, Miss Guvenc would like to see a reduction of the 40mph speed limit, and pedestrian controlled traffic lights.

She plans to send it to Kent County Council and Gravesham MP Adam Holloway this week.

She said: “People living on this bit of road are vulnerable. They are elderly, disabled, there’s a special needs centre too, and a youth club.

“I don’t want our MP and the council to close their ears to this. Nan may have been 88, but she’s still human. I don’t want to see anyone else hurt or killed on this road, old or young.

“Nobody should die like that. I thought she would go in bed, where I would have had time to at least say goodbye.

“Nan was very involved in the community. She often had children round her and always had sweets and chocolates for them.

“She had a great spirit, and was always smiling. You couldn’t refuse her anything, she had this magnetic personality.

“Most of all she loved her freedom. She didn’t want to be in a care home.”

Mrs Rifat was in an accident with a blue Audi A6. The driver – a 27-year-old man from Northfleet – was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and causing death while uninsured.

He has been bailed until Monday, August 22.

Among the 200 people supporting Miss Guvenc’s petition are Peter Winter and Gillian Videancorr, who also live in Cleveland House.

They were shocked by Mrs Rifat’s death outside their home, and face the same treacherous walk across the road regularly.

There are zebra crossings – one to the west, outside Lawn primary school and one to the east, outside Rosherville primary.

To get from Cleveland House to the bus stop opposite via a crossing means walking around half a mile more. Most residents cannot manage that distance.

Mr Winter, 73, said: “I’ve had a couple of near misses myself, and I’m not the only one. It makes me shake crossing it.

“I’m disabled, I can’t move quickly, and I can’t make the walk all the way up to the pedestrian crossing and back again.

“They come round the corner at Dover Road, and it’s a blind bend, but they put their foot down knowing they’re coming up to a straight stretch, without any thought someone might be crossing.”

Gillian Videan, 69, said: “I’ve lived here for five years and we all knew Sifa. I was so shocked to hear she’d died, and I have a huge fear of crossing that road.

“I didn’t see the accident, but I saw all the police and ambulances. Now I’m having counselling because sometimes all I can see is flashing blue lights and it’s made me nervous.

“It’s such a dangerous road but I’ve had a knee operation and I can’t walk all the way up to the crossing.

“We need pedestrian controlled traffic lights here. A zebra crossing is no good, people don’t always stop. It’s a wide road, so an island in the middle to give people a chance to stop would be something.”

The road has a chequered past. For the full story, see this week's Gravesend Messenger.