Published: May 18, 2009
Highbridge group's anger as pedestrian crossing is axed

Members of a Highbridge campaign group have this week expressed their disappointment after proposals to build a new pedestrian crossing on Burnham Road were axed by the County Council.

The recently-formed pressure group RAPYD (Residents Against Proposed Yellow Disaster), which was celebrating last month when the County Council scaled back its plans for double yellow lines along Burnham Road as part of a scheme to introduce a new roundabout at the junction with Pepperall Road, is now unhappy.

The group did not expect plans for a "much-needed" pedestrian crossing near the entrance of Morland Road to be removed by the Council.

RAPYD says the pedestrian crossing - which was shown on the original plans pictured at the bottom of this page - is badly needed for safety reasons.

The group's chairperson, Fiona Cawley told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "We are very unhappy that the crossing has been taken out of the scheme."

"We were desperate to see a crossing introduced here at the same time as the roundabout. Safety is so important - visibility is often poor and traffic moves very quickly alomg Burnham Road. It's often difficult to cross without a long wait."

"Just last week, a boy was involved in an accident further along Burnham Road, which shows how important safety is."

Work to prepare the junction for the new mini-roundabout was completed last week, as pictured above, when the road's surface got a new coating of tarmac. The scheme is expected to be completed during the next few days.

The County Council says the scheme is needed because the soon-to-open Frank Foley Parkway will create an increase in traffic passing through the junction.

Burnham-On-Sea.com first highlighted safety at the junction last year when local resident Terence William called for a pedestrian crossing at the location.

Pictured above are RAPYD Chairperson Fiona Cawley and husband Colin Cawley and (below) the proposals for the junction