Petition launched for zebra crossing on Hungerford's Bridge Street

The petition has been created by Humphrey Barber, who lives north of the town in Eddington. More than 30 people signed an online version at West Berkshire Council’s website; a copy at Hungerford Nursery School gained another 43 signatures, and a further copy at Hungerford Primary School is available for signing at present.
The petition states: “We, the undersigned, petition the council to provide a zebra crossing on Bridge Street in Hungerford. The completion of the new footbridge in Hungerford is a boon to road safety in the town.
“However, there is no provision for any residents living to the north and east of the bridge to access it. This includes all the residents of Eddington and a large proportion of the residents of Hungerford.”
Mr Barber, who has a two-year-old son and another child on the way, said: “My concern about this issue grew from being a parent and finding it very perilous walking with a pram from Eddington, to the north of Hungerford, to the town centre. The pavement over the the road bridge is extremely dangerous for pram-pushers and pedestrians alike.
“The situation was alleviated somewhat by the construction of the Diamond Jubilee footbridge. However most of the population north of the road bridge still have take their lives in their hands to cross the road to access the footbridge. The creation of a pedestrian crossing is therefore a very important road safety project.”
He added: “In addition to the crossing potentially being a life-saving addition to Bridge Street it would also serve the dual purposes of extending the shopping thoroughfare of the High Street north to include the shops there, such as Furrs, Styles, Roxtons, Bei Cappelini, Angela Knight and so on, as well as ease pressure on the parking spaces in the town itself, as the residents to the north would not feel compelled to drive into the High Street for their own safety.”
Mr Barber said he had hoped that the work could have been done alongside the current High Street resurfacing works but conceded: “Sadly the wheels of local government do not spin that freely.”
He went on: “However this is an important project which needs prompt action.”
West Berkshire Council spokesman Keith Ulyatt said: “A report giving details of the petition will go to the portfolio holder for highways for an individual member decision. A date for that has yet to be agreed, and the report yet to be written.”