A Bedford Borough councillor has warned that a new pedestrian crossing on the town’s Embankment is “an accident waiting to happen”.
At Wednesday’s Full Council meeting (26 November), cllr Carl Meader (Labour, Kempston South) said he and “many others” share a concern about the right turn which takes drivers onto the Embankment after coming over the town bridge.
“This really is an accident waiting to happen,” he said. “In my opinion, the new pedestrian crossing is far too close to the junction.
“In the last week alone, I’ve witnessed several near misses and many other people have as well.
“The problem is that motorists are having to negotiate and focus on crossing a lane of traffic going south out of town and then immediately look out for pedestrians using the crossing,” he said.
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Cllr Meader asked if moving the crossing closer to the Swan Hotel could be considered.
“The counterargument would be that pedestrians would still cross the road where they’re crossing the road at the moment,” he said.
“I know cost comes into it, but if you could put some railings up there that would guide pedestrians towards a new crossing a little bit further down. I think motorists and pedestrians would be far safer,” he said.
The portfolio holder for economic growth, planning and prosperity, cllr Andrea Spice (Conservative, Wixams and Wilstead) said this issue was raised when the zebra crossing was first put in.
But it was decided, as cllr Meader had pointed out, if the crossing were moved, people would cross there anyway.
“Which is a whole different safety issue in itself,” she said.
Railings
Responding to cllr Meader’s suggestion to install railings, cllr Spice said: “We have been working really hard to take railings out for the perceived feeling of fear or safety.
“Because when you’re stuck behind a railing, then you are, as a pedestrian, trapped. And for whatever reason, a lot of people don’t like railings.
“There are many parts of town where we are taking the railings out now so that people feel safer walking. That’s why we’ve been working on that, because there is a perception of fear and safety that we need to address.
“I’m not saying this would happen in Bedford, because I fully support my town and feel safe in it. But I will work with cllr Gribble [Independent, Renhold & Ravensden and portfolio holder for environment] and the officers.
“[Because] when roadworks go in, when changes are made, they always look at it to see the impact and what’s happened. And I don’t want to say those fatal words and jinx myself, but there haven’t been any reports as yet,” she said.
Cllr Meader said: “I just feel that the pedestrians that are currently using the crossing have almost got a false sense of security.
“I don’t think it is safe to cross there.”
By John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
