20th Jan 2009

Make the High Road crossing safe, requests Julian

 

Labour’s Parliamentary candidate Julian Ware-Lane has called for a review of the Borough’s roads. 

“It has been put to me a number of times whilst I have been campaigning that the roads in Castle Point are not as safe as they could be”, said Julian Ware-Lane. 

Whilst our roads may never be one hundred percent safe we should not be using that as an excuse to do nothing. Julian has already called for 20mph limits by schools and is concerned over dangerous un-illuminated build-outs in several locations on bends but particularly one in Rushbottom Lane. 

A number of residents have now asked me to raise a concern about a pedestrian crossing in the High Road, South Benfleet (outside the Police Station). On the south side of the road pedestrians emerge from amongst parked vehicles, making them difficult to spot for road users.  

“I don’t want the council to wait until a nasty accident happens before they act”. “It may only take the removal of one parking bay to make this a much safer site for people to cross”, said Julian. 

St.Mary’s councillor Brian Wilson, in whose ward this crossing partially falls, said “most Benfleet drivers use sensible caution when approaching this crossing but I am worried about those who are not regular users of this road and who may be unaware of the danger”. 

“There is also a dodgy crossing on the High Road near the Tarpots” added Brian. 

“Castle Point has quite a number of traffic blackspots and is extremely busy at certain times of the day. If it is difficult for motorists to negotiate then imagine what problems are facing elderly pedestrians” said Julian.