THE death of a teacher on a flooded road has led to renewed calls for a controversial street light switch-off to be reviewed.

Gerrards Cross Parish Council Chairman Chris Brown said the A413 was a flood problem area – despite claims to the contrary by the county council, which is responsible for the lights.

He was speaking after the inquest into the death of Sarah Stacey, who was killed after a car crash on the road near Chalfont St Peter on February 28.

The inquest heard Miss Stacey, known as Elaine, was hit by another vehicle which crossed the road's central reservation when it lost control after entering standing water that stretched up to 70 metres along the carriageway (see link to previous story, below).

Eric Meek, Group Operations Manager for Transport for Buckinghamshire, told the inquest the road was “not a known problem flooding site”.

But Cllr Brown told the Bucks Free Press: “Whenever we have heavy rain it's always a problem. It was frequent enough for it to be noticeable and known.

“I make a habit of driving in the outside lane because you just don't see it [flooding]. The left hand side of the carriageway between Gerrards Cross and Chalfont St Peter was always under water.

“When the lights were on it wasn't so bad – when they went off it was more dangerous, it took you by surprise.

“When it's pitch black you're onto it before you realise. This accident was really down to that. If the lights had been on there's a good chance it wouldn't have happened.”

He added: “Bucks County Council are being very head in the sand about the whole thing. The street light switch-off is very ill-considered.”

Cllr Brown said the problem appeared to have been fixed after work was done to clear the gullies.

The inquest at Wycombe Magistrates' Court heard the drains and gullies had last been cleared at the end of the previous March.

Mr Meek told the inquest: “It's not a known problem flooding site. There are some along that stretch of road, but that wasn't a particular problem site we had prior knowledge of.”

He added the council had got behind with gully clearing due to the bad winter weather.

Cllr Brown said he had “no evidence” the parish council had raised the issue of flooding with the county.

“It's not something a parish council picks up on, you always assume Highways are well aware of it,” he said. “I was surprised the county council didn't know about it.”

Mark Oldfield, Communications Manager for Transport for Buckinghamshire, said: “Buckinghamshire County Council gave evidence at the inquest into the death of Sarah Elaine Stacey, which was accepted by the coroner, and we have nothing to add at this stage.”