POLICE are investigating the death of a driver in his 50s after a car hit a tree during the evening rush-hour in Lydney.

The incident last Thursday happened shortly before 5.05pm on the B4231 Bream Road out of the town, and the busy road was closed for several hours while police investigated.

A Gloucestershire Police spokesperson said that night: “A man aged in his 50s has died following a single vehicle collision in Lydney, Forest of Dean earlier this evening (Thursday, January 23).

“Police were called by the ambulance service shortly before 5.05pm with a report a vehicle had collided with a tree on the B4231 Bream Road.

“A collision investigation is underway and police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision, or who has relevant dashcam footage, to make contact.

“Information can be given by calling police on 101 and quoting incident 362 of 23 January. Road closures remain in place in Lydney and motorists are advised to find alternative routes.”

Although it has not been revealed what caused last week’s accident, there have been claims this week that police have ‘taken their eye off the ball’ about safety on rural roads.

Forest of Dean Inspector Nick Cook has defended the force’s record and said they regularly take action on such routes concerning speed and safety.

Cinderford county councillor Graham Morgan, who chairs the Forest of Dean Road Safety Group, has highlighted the need for some kind of traffic calming measures on B roads through tree-lined forest highways where the slightest mistake could end in tragedy.

The threats of animals – wild boar, deer and sheep in particular that roam around the forests – running out in front of vehicles is a constant fear as drivers have to negotiate twisting roads and, during the dark hours, blinding lights shining into on-coming drivers’ eyes from big, modern cars.

But, with Gloucestershire Police aiming their speed cameras on the major A roads, such as the A48 and A40, Cllr Morgan says the rural routes are being ignored.

He said: “Police have taken their eye off the ball in terms of traffic control in rural areas. We need ANPR cameras (automatic number plate recognition cameras) on Forest roads. It is long overdue.

“Once people know they can drive fast and there is no payback, they will.”

Inspector Cook, local commander for the Forest of Dean, said: “Gloucestershire Constabulary is committed to keeping all motorists safe wherever they are in the county and irrespective of the category of road they are travelling on.

“In line with the Police and Crime Commissioner’s priority of Safe and Social Driving, the Force operates an intelligence-based tasking system, sending our resources to areas where the needs are greatest.

“We conduct regular road safety operations covering all aspects of road safety, including speeding, and work with partner agencies, the Special Constabulary and members of the public to identify the need and deliver the activity.

“In the Forest of Dean, we have 20 camera van and 16 handheld camera enforcement sites,” added the officer.

“These range from the A40, A4136 and A48 through the ‘lesser’ through roads to others in and around the towns and villages.

“In 2019, the team carried out 200 visits and detected 2,341 speeding and 59 other offences.”

He added: “If anyone has any specific local concerns about the safety of the roads in the Forest of Dean we would encourage them to speak to us in the first instance and work with us to resolve the issues.”