TRAFFIC monitoring equipment is to be installed at pedestrian crossings in Leicester Road, after ‘alarmed’ councillors raised concerns about aggressive drivers speeding through red lights and narrowly missing schoolchildren.
Warwickshire County Council (WCC) officers have agreed to install cameras to observe red light jumping and speeding at the Tesco roundabout crossings, which are used by large numbers of children on their way to and from school.
The equipment – due to be installed in the new year – will also provide data to inform WCC on safety in Leicester Road.
Borough Councillors Jim Ellis and Ramesh Srivastava, who represent Newbold and Brownsover, and County Councillor Sarah Feeney of Benn Ward filed for a safety review into the crossings earlier this month after a car passed through a red light at the Tesco roundabout crossing, hitting a child and his bike before speeding away – leaving the child shaken, but fortunately not injured.
The new measures were agreed after what Coun Ellis described as some ‘straight-talking’ with senior and lead officers at WCC.
Coun Ellis said: “The aim is to build a dataset of car and pedestrian activity with a view to improving the Safer Route to School routes. Additionally, the county has an education scheme which it will roll out to local primary and secondary schools.
“Currently, WCC views the road as ‘safe’ – but we argued that the road dynamic has changed with economic development and the new housing and population base.
“WCC tells us that they have not received complaints about safety despite online community concern, and require those who have had incidents to write and complain directly to the County Council.”
Many parents commented on social media that incidents at the crossings were all too common – some adding that they would not allow their children to walk to school as a result.
At the crossing, the councillors said they saw ‘aggressive driving and startled pedestrians’, noting that much of the speeding was to beat the red lights.
Coun Feeney said: “We need to consider if the pedestrian routes are too close to roundabouts since drivers are emerging from the roundabout and failing to stop when lights are on red.”
Coun Srivastava added: “In an ideal world, an underpass or pedestrian bridge might also be appropriate.”
Cllr Ellis said: “With the up-and-coming Avon Mill roundabout improvements, we need WCC to consider safety upgrades along the route.
“Since they will be streamlining car access, roads and pedestrian routes in one section with the Avon Mill upgrade, we must ask them to be more holistic and ensure the school route is also upgraded to a safe level.”
