News

New crossing approved for Carlton road ‘used by 9,000 vehicles a day’

By Lauren Monaghan, Junior Local Democracy Reporter

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A new pedestrian crossing has been approved on a road in Carlton used by more than 9,000 vehicles a day.

Nottinghamshire County Council approved the proposals for a new puffin crossing in Westdale Lane, Carlton, between Adbolton Avenue and Darley Avenue on Monday (Feburary 3).

Some residents living nearby objected over parking, but the council has given the go-ahead, saying it is needed to improve pedestrian safety, including for school children, along the busy road.

Puffin crossings include a press button and are seen as more efficient as they use sensors to detect when people are waiting to cross the road and how long they are in the road for.

They come with zig-zag road markings before and after the crossing, on either side of the road.

The new crossing will be built on raised sections of pavement sticking out into the lane which currently acts as an unofficial crossing point.

Surveys conducted showed 148 pedestrians used the unofficial crossing daily and 93 crossed the road opposite the Co-op store.

The road also sees an average 9,100 vehicles a day.

The council conducted a public consultation on the plans between May 24, 2024 until June 21, and received eight objections.

Residents objected to the plans based on new zig-zag markings causing parking issues for visitors and deliveries and problems with accessing their driveways.

Council papers said: “Westdale Lane currently has hatching around the existing [unofficial crossing] with double yellow lines around each junction, therefore parking is already limited outside residences at these locations.”

They also objected to the new crossing due to the potential for increased traffic, new lighting and feeling “no need” for it to be placed in that location.

Gordon Donaldson has lived on Westdale Lane for around five years and does not believe the council’s figures are accurate.

He said: “I’ve watched that and I know during the course of the day there’s not the number they’re quoting.

“This crossing, will service a minuscule number of people- it won’t benefit this area one jot.”

He is also concerned over what the plans mean for parking and accessing his driveway.

He said: “On the approach [to the crossing] there will be a stop line, where the traffic will stop, coming further more towards the edge of our driveway.

“Then you’ve got the regulatory zigzag lines, no parking, no nothing, which impacts on us.

“Where are our friends going to park, deliveries? If we have work done on the house and people doing services for us where are they going to park?”

Mr Donaldson believes the better option to add to the road is new speed cameras with car speeding being “the biggest problem for residents”.

Another resident, who asked not to be named, and lives near the planned crossing said “there’s no need” for it in that part of the lane.

She said: “I’ve lived here for 30 years, there’s never been an accident.

“They were saying there was a bad accident- there wasn’t and I corrected them.”

Representing the Carlton West ward, County Councillor Jim Creamer (Lab) said: “It’s always difficult finding the perfect place for a crossing on a road like Westdale Lane, but residents have been asking for this for a long time and I’m glad to see proposals finally being put in place.

“This safety measure will provide peace of mind for a lot of people, including children at the Phoenix School.”