Crossing fight looks set to be won

People power looks set to win the day for Kirkwood residents who have been campaigning for a crossing outside a busy supermarket.

Councillors on North Lanarkshire’s infrastructure committee will today be asked to approve a proposal to install new traffic lights outside the Tesco Express on Woodside Street.

Residents last year submitted two separate petitions, containing a combined 751 signatures, requesting a crossing to aid pedestrians and to prevent drivers flouting restrictions and parking on the street’s yellow lines.

North Lanarkshire officials had recommended six months ago that the request be turned down – but with residents already having gained the support of local politicians of all parties, councillors disagreed with that assessment and called for a further review including the potential relocation of nearby traffic lights.

Morning and afternoon peak surveys showed that more pedestrians crossed the road outside Tesco than at the existing lights during both periods; and that there was a higher number of vehicles passing the supermarket spot, which has three side-road junctions within 50m.

Subject to councillors’ agreement today, an additional crossing will then be put in place on Woodside Street between Mitchell Street and Lismore Drive, at a cost of £10,000.

The report for today’s meeting notes:“Guidance stipulates that crossings should be located away from conflict points [and] a minimum distance of 20m from a junction is suggested; [this] would be within 20m of a junction.

“Waiting restrictions are installed outside Tesco to discourage drivers parking at and obstructing visibility; [these] are regularly disobeyed by motorists visiting the adjacent shops, therefore increasing the risk to pedestrians crossing Woodside Street.

“Given the age of the existing crossing, there is no benefit in reusing any of the equipment at an alternative location; the primary costs are associated with installation of the power supply and civil engineering works.”