This Is Cheshire

CROSSED OFF

From the Guardian Series, first published Wednesday 19th Mar 2003.

HOPES for a pedestrian refuge in Holmes Chapel Road have been dashed - but the campaign for a crossing will continue.

The joint highways committee for Congleton Borough Council decided not to install a pedestrian crossing after discussing the results of a survey carried out earlier this year at the Angus Grove linkway.

The survey, taken over 12 hours from 7am, showed that although there was a significant amount of traffic using the road there were not enough pedestrians to warrant the installation of a crossing or similar measures.

It comes as a major blow to a campaign led by the Guardian with Middlewich Clr Dave Sutton to get a crossing on the road, after a young boy suffered serious injuries when he was in collision with a car there.

But Clr Sutton has resolved to continue the campaign and is appealing to people to write in with their support.

He is concerned that it is not a safe route to school for children and commented: "I am angered by the criteria again as people do not attempt to use this road and get in their cars as they know it is dangerous."

Risk

He added: "You cannot get into town any other way as the footpath finishes.

"People with push chairs or people in wheelchairs have great trouble as the pavement narrows and they cannot get past without taking the risk of being struck by a vehicle."

Clr Sutton has suggested a number of alternative solutions including bidding for funds from the Safer Routes to Schools scheme to cover the cost of the crossing and he has asked the joint highways committee to look into the provision of a speed camera on Holmes Chapel Road.

To contact Clr Sutton email dpsutton@btinternet.com or ring him on 01606 832721.

For more information about the crossing campaign, visit our website at www.thisismiddlewich.co.uk.

jdriscoll@guardiangrp.co.uk

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