Highways give way in Gosberton road safety fight

Appeals from Gosberton Academy, Rainbow Playgroup and Gosberton Parish Council for a pedestrian crossing have led to a pledge from Lincolnshire county highways to carry out a traffic survey outside the school.

The appeals followed an accident outside the school last November when a boy was left with a swollen lip after he was hit by a car’s wing mirror.

At the time, head of school Sarah Gray said: “We’re quite concerned about the road markings outside the school as it’s not a pedestrian crossing, nor a school crossing.

“I think what’s really needed is for Lincolnshire County Council’s highways department to come and look at whether we could do with a proper crossing.”

Miss Gray was supported by playgroup leader Jane Houghton who said “we’ve had this argument (about a pedestrian crossing in High Street) with Lincolnshire County Council for years.

“But the council says there’s not enough traffic coming through the village on High Street to warrant a crossing.”

Figures from Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership showed that in the last five years, seven “slight injury collisions” have taken place in the area of Gosberton Academy, five of which were due to “driver error”.

But Gosberton Parish Council chairman Coun John Clark said: “The council wants a proper pedestrian crossing as the road markings there now are only for guidance, but not everyone seems to understand what they are there for.”

Coun Susan Wray, county councillor for Donington Rural which includes Gosberton, said: “I am in constant contact with our highways department and those involved with this issue.

“There have now been two surveys, both of which indicate the volume and different types of traffic using the road, hopefully helping to inform the decision-making process.

“I feel one of the concerns is the use of the road as a main through-route for HGVs, some of which are from local haulage companies and with few alternatives, this will be a difficult issue to address.

“However, the safety of children and others using and living the village is of the utmost importance and so a designated crossing area will certainly help.”

Andy Wharff, area highways manager for Lincolnshire County Council, said, “As the original traffic survey was carried out in February 2009, it is reasonable to assume that conditions outside the Academy may have changed.

“I have therefore commissioned another traffic survey to be carried out at an appropriate time to ensure we obtain comparable data.

“Once we have received the results, we will assess whether the criteria for a pedestrian crossing has been met and discuss things further with the school and parish council.”

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