MORE than six years after it was originally proposed, a crossing could at last be erected in a danger road.
Essex County Council has confirmed it is looking for a suitable location for a pedestrian crossing in North Weald High Road, just over six months since 85-year-old Peggy Dorrington died there following a road crash.
Mrs Dorrington, of Wheelers Farm Gardens,who had campaigned for years for a crossing opposite the Bassett Parade of shops, had been crossing the road when she was hit by a Range Rover.
Jim Clark, of Wheelers Farm Gardens, had helped hand in a petition for a crossing with Mrs Dorrington and welcomed the progress by the council.
He said: “It's what we've been trying for for a long, long time. It's mostly elderly people where I live and who walk to the shops. I've got a scooter but it's still dangerous because they don't stop for you. I'm sure they can do it if they put their mind to it.”
Wheelers Farm Gardens Residents Association secretary Pat Kitson was still cautious about where exactly a crossing might be sited.
She said: “What they need is 70 metres of clear road- that's the problem. People come round the bend at quite a pace and people might not be safe at a pedestrian crossing. I've seen them come through at 50 or 60mph.”
She added: “It's definitely needed here. People are very slow at crossing the road when they're in their 80s or 90s and there should be provision to cross.”
Original plans for a crossing drawn up in 2003 fell through because they were contingent on a one-way system being installed through Bassett Parade which owner Pat Patel objected to.
But Mr Patel said he welcomed any new progress adding: “It's a step in the right direction from before when they didn't want to know at all. At the end of the day if they make a proposal I won't have any problems. It's just a matter of the shopkeepers not losing out.”
A spokeswoman for the county council said: “Essex County Council are currently carrying out investigations and assessments in order to find a suitable place for a crossing. Unfortunately we cannot say anything else until these have been carried out.”
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