Crossing site plan moved 20 meters...
Autumn is the new expected completion date for crossing
A MUCH needed pedestrian crossing in the town centre has moved a few steps closer after problems were found with its original planned location.
Council bosses say the delayed works to install a crossing point in Lancaster Road should now go ahead later this year as they have found a new site, just 20 metres away from where it was originally to go.
Councillor Blake Pain, cabinet member for environment and transport on Leicestershire County Council, said: “We remain committed to the provision of a crossing and have carried out an investigation of a potential alternative location, approximately 20 metres from the original site on Lancaster Road.”
Works were meant to begin on installing the fixture a few metres from the junction with Regent Street by the end of February, but the project was postponed after pipes and electric cables were found beneath the location.
Markings appeared further down the road in late May near the entrance to The Crescent complex.
Cllr Pain said: “A public consultation will be held later this summer following discussions about the new location with emergency services and other partners.
“If supported, we will look to begin works on site in autumn 2018.”
Investigative works so far included trial holes and a road safety audit.
Many people have said the busy thoroughfare needs a place for pedestrians to cross, with hundreds signing a petition on change organisation website 38 Degrees over the road route since The Crescent opened.
Organiser Louis Crisp labelled the road “highly dangerous”.
Lobby group Together helped promote the petition and leafleted houses with information about the cause.
The crossing was billed at £40,000, with part of the funds coming from the £800,000 cash pot left over from previous rounds of highways projects, along with a contribution from Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council.
The county council said the new location will be proposed to the Emergency Services, the local elected member and Hinckley And Bosworth Borough Council.