First signs of possible U-turn on Jury Street
The pressure brought on county council road safety officers about the dangers of crossing High Street and Jury Street in Warwick town centre has led to a fresh consultation.
Two months ago Cllr Peter Butlin, who is responsible for transport and highways for the county, was adamant that any changes to the four “shared crossings” on the main road through the town would not be considered until the next safety audit - at least a year away.
This was despite guide dog users meeting at the site of the former zebra crossing near the junction with Church Street to register their strong objections to its replacement with the ‘platforms’ - which they declared made that part of Warwick a “no-go” area for them.
Two weeks ago officers in the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) recommended their members to consider taking legal action against the council under equality legislation.
But at a transport forum meeting on Monday night, County Cllr Angela Warner won agreement for a new consultation to be held and, if the overwhelming view was for a return of a controlled zebra crossing, funds would be made available to provide one.
Cllr Warner (Con, Warwick South) said: “I am utterly delighted and enormously relieved that funding has definitely been identified for a crossing for High Street/Jury Street, should that be the best solution.
“I now understand a consultation will start as soon as possible and run for a few weeks.”
If local people decide that a controlled crossing is needed then new traffic regulation orders will be prepared to allow the changes to take place.
Labour town councillor John Holland, who noticed that the latest ‘keep left’ sign in High Street had been knocked down by a passing car earlier this week, said: “The money to restore the crossing was always there.
“But if the latest consultation results in a U-turn by the county council to make this road safe for both pedestrians and drivers then I will be very pleased.”
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Weather for Warwick
Tuesday 18 June 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 13 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North west
