Bottom of the Town campaign group submit petition to Hampshire County Council calling for crossing on Captains Row

SAFETY campaigners calling for a crossing on a busy Lymington street have handed over a petition containing nearly 1,500 signatures.

The Bottom of the Town group have been pushing for a raised point at Captains Row, claiming it would give pedestrians safe passage to the popular quay area which they said can be used daily by more than 10,000 people.

On Saturday they gathered to click the button and send their petition by email to Hampshire County Council, the highways authority.

HCC said it would look at the arguments but warned the site had been considered before, without success.

Campaign spokesperson Jon Ellis told the A&T: “The need for this facility on Lymington’s busiest pedestrian route, from High Street to the quay, is not solely a ‘highways’ matter.

“It is important for Lymington’s future development as a pleasant, convenient and safe place for people to walk around, thereby helping to attract visitors and locals and retain trade in the town.

“While it is true that this junction has not seen a serious accident in recent years, it remains challenging for 10,000 pedestrians who cross daily on summer Saturdays, and is hazardous for users of mobility scooters, pushchairs etc.”

He claimed that as part of the Lymington Shores development, housebuilder Redrow had made a £300,000 sustainable transport contribution in the 2012 planning consent, specifically identifying a crossing at Captains Row.

Cllr Nick Adams-King, HCC cabinet member for highways operations, said: “We will be evaluating the petition and the request it makes, and will be responding in due course.

“While the county council is keen to support sustainable and active travel solutions wherever possible, there are sites where measures such as a controlled crossing, or similar, may not be suitable.

“I can confirm that this site has been looked at previously in relation to similar measures.”

In 2014 HCC engineers concluded the site was not suitable for a pedestrian crossing with lights but could host a raised crossing. Nothing has been done since.

That idea was backed by the Bottom of the Town group, Mr Ellis said, revealing it had been in correspondence with new HCC leader Cllr Rob Humby.

Mr Ellis claimed Cllr Humby had said the road did not qualify to get a crossing because data showed there had been no major accidents there to justify the spend, but funding may be acquired if it was shown the route could boost sustainability.

“We are definitely going to try and pursue the sustainability route,” Mr Ellis continued.

“We will keep putting pressure on local councillors on Lymington and Pennington Town Council, New Forest District Council and Hampshire highways.”