Council suggests 'look left and right' signs at crash spot

Kelly Newell launched an online petition to change the system at the traffic hotspot after her 12-year-old son Thomas (known as TJ) was knocked down by a car jumping a red light on December 11, resulting in six fractures to his neck.

The campaign has since attracted over 10,000 signatures and was put to the local authority by Kelly in a one minute video call timeslot on February 1.

But she was left aghast when a response from the council's Principal Committee Officer suggested that the situation could be improved by painting 'look left' and 'look right' road markings onto the junction.

Thomas was taken straight to hospital in an Ambulance after the incident in December

Speaking to the Globe, Spital mother-of-two Kelly said: “The children are all returning back to school in under two weeks. The traffic is still really busy, even at this stage in the lockdown.

"Parents in Spital and Bebington are genuinely worried for the safety of our children, crossing that junction from March 8.

"Until there is change, I’ll be taking TJ to school and he will be getting picked up to ensure his safety while he recovers from the trauma and injuries sustained at Spital crossroads on December 1.”

An email from the council, seen by the Globe, said: "This junction conforms with relevant design standards for a traffic signal-controlled junction and has dedicated crossing points for pedestrians with dropped kerbs and coloured tactile paving in accordance with current guidance.

"Provision of pedestrian phase puffin crossing facilities at all arms of this junction would require an all-red phase for traffic, which would lead to severe traffic congestion and displacement of traffic into adjacent unsuitable residential roads with associated road safety as well as environmental implications.

"The number of recorded personal injury accidents involving pedestrians at this junction in the last five years is two. Nevertheless, the Council understands this is a complicated junction for pedestrians to negotiate and sympathises with the strength of public opinion in relation to the safety perceptions at this junction.

"One thing we can implement is “look left” and “look right” road markings and arrows at crossing points to remind pedestrians which way traffic is coming from. This is a recently allowed prescribed form of road marking, but is not mandatory at this or any other location. However, we are willing to implement this as a trial measure."

Kelly is being supported in her efforts for change by her local Conservative councillors Mary Jordan and Cherry Povell.

In response to the email, Cllr Povell wrote to the Director of Highways requesting a site visit from the officers concerned.

"We do have some suggestions as to how improvement can be made perhaps without great expense," she said.

But Cllr Jordan has since confirmed to Kelly that although a meeting is anticipated to go ahead next week, it has only been agreed to by the committee via a video call and not at the junction itself 'due to Covid'.

Cllr Jordan said: "We are not prepared to let this go and will be insisting on a site visit."

In a post on Facebook regarding the suggested improvement response from the council, Kelly said: "It’s actually quite shockingly embarrassing... 'let’s paint look left and look right marks on the road.'

"I’m going to fight it every step of the way. There’s no way I’m letting my children or anyone rely on looking left and right because the road tells them to.

"What about looking over their shoulder in between looking left and right because it’s so disorganised and dangerous?"

Kelly will be given a five minute opportunity to further make her case to the council at a full committee meeting on March 22, where she will be able to offer statements from local residents.