Crescent crossing plans are delayed until 2019
Council says it did not want to disupt Christmas trading
PLANS for a long-awaited pedestrian crossing in the town centre have been pushed back yet again.
Council bosses said works are to start on the fixture on Lancaster Road near The Crescent in early January 2019 despite previous plans to put it in place by the end of this year.
A spokesperson for Leicestershire County Council said: “We launched a consultation in October for the proposed pedestrian crossing on Lancaster Road, Hinckley, and no objections were raised.
“As a result of this, we expect work to start on the scheme in early January 2019.
“While it was hoped to start the scheme before Christmas, we took into account the disruption this would have caused to planned town centre events, and the busy Christmas shopping period and felt it wouldn’t be appropriate.
“We remain committed to providing a crossing and, weather depending, expect it to be installed by the beginning of February.”
Work was meant to begin by the end of February 2018 on installing the crossing a few metres from the junction with Station Road, but the project was postponed until Autumn after pipes and electric cables were found beneath the location.
Planners found a new site 20 metres from the original location and said the works would go ahead later this year.
Steve Wegerif, director of Hinckley BID, said: “There is normally an embargo on serious roadworks on the run up to Christmas in order to help traffic flow and given the location, this seems sensible.
“We are delighted it is finally happening, and the sooner the better in the new year.”
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 since The Crescent opened.
The crossing was billed at £40,000, with part of the money 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.