To install a pedestrian crossing in a residential area, across a main road used daily by a lot of children and their parents as their main walking route to the two primary schools.
Why is this important?
The lack of a pedestrian crossing of any description concerns me and other residents/parents greatly. As I said above, this is a main school route for parents walking their children to the local Infant and junior schools. As a househusband, I also walk my 6 and 9 year old to these schools every day.
I designed a simple petition and collected nearly 200 signatures requesting the council to install an official pedestrian controlled crossing. I sent the petition off a long time ago, and have had numerous emails and telephone calls to, and from various people at Portsmouth City Council, local MP’s, local councillors and both head teachers, all supporting myself and other residents for our wish to see a crossing installed, but so far nothing has been done. At a recent council meeting, I was informed that there had been a cut in funding, and although my proposal for a crossing wasn’t dismissed outright, I quote from an email from the council that;- “this scheme has been put forward and we will await confirmation of the 2014/15 LTP programme early next year after proposals are taken to Cabinet. This usually occurs annually around March. After scheme submission, officers have little involvement and await feedback from senior managers early next year.”
On a relevant issue, my son's friend got knocked over on Havant Road a few years ago, albeit at the pedestrian crossing near the small Tescos and Post Office further along Havant Road. Yet this simply reiterates the need for an official crossing, proving that this road is a busy thoroughfare, and accidents can happen even when there are pedestrian crossing installed. So to avoid another accident, there must be a pedestrian controlled crossing installed.
