Dropped kerb crossing ‘a joke’ and ‘ridiculous’
RESIDENTS ARE UNHAPPY ABOUT SAFETY MEASURE
MOTORISTS and pedestrians have questioned why a new pedestrian crossing “drivers can’t see” and “does nothing to improve road safety” has been installed in Anstey.
Children and adults who have to cross Cropston Road in the village had been looking forward to a new pedestrian crossing being built with lights to stop traffic for them.
But Charnwood Borough Council, who insisted the crossing should be installed when it granted planning permission for new homes nearby, allowed the crossing to be a dropped kerb, based on advice from county highways.
People in Anstey are now questioning the wisdom of the council’s decision, saying the crossing actually creates more problems than it solves.
Andy Wilson, 65, said: “It’s a joke. No one driving along Cropston Road can see it’s a crossing, and if you did slow down to let someone cross the road, the driver behind would probably go into the back of you.
“It’s useless. It’s just a lowered kerb. “We’re teaching our children to cross the road safely at crossings, but we don’t have one on the main road they cross to get to school.
“Our daughter is 10 and goes to Woolden Hill Primary School and there will come a time when she’ll be wanting to go to school on her own.
“A few children live on this side of Cropston Road and also need to be able to cross safely. But there are no signs, no road markings – nothing.
“Quite a lot of us think this is ridiculous.”
Deborah Taylor, local borough councillor for the area, said she was still trying to find out what was going on with the crossing. “I’ve had a few people contact me unhappy with the crossing and there’s a lot of new housing being developed there. It is quite a busy road and there is a lot of speeding.”
Creating the crossing was a condition when a developer was granted planning permission for new homes off Cropston Road and David Snartt, who was county councillor at the time, ensured the plans were for a proper crossing with lights. Coun Snartt, who is still a member of Charnwood Borough Council, said: “I was involved at the time and I was after a crossing with signs. How it’s developed the way it has since then, I’m not sure.”
A spokesman for Charnwood Borough Council said while a “signalised crossing” had been included in an earlier planning application, the council had accepted a simpler crossing instead, which had been approved by highways officers at County Hall.
He said: “Leicestershire County Council, which is responsible for highways, was consulted with regards to the planning permission and was ultimately satisfied with the proposed crossing which has now been delivered. If anyone has concerns about the crossing then we would advise them to approach the county council.
“There had been requests for a signalised crossing in a previous application for this site but it was never implemented and that application was superseded by the new permission.”
Coun Taylor has vowed to keep working for a better crossing.
She said: “I’m still working on it. I’m certainly not leaving it.”
No one driving along Cropston Road can see it’s a crossing. It’s useless. It’s just a lowered kerb
Andy Wilson