Pensioner's fury over fine for painting DIY pedestrian crossing near Mudeford home

A PENSIONER has told of his anger at being fined £130 for drawing a pedestrian crossing on the road approaching Mudeford Quay.

Laurie Phillips (78) said the road was dangerous due to the huge volume of cars using it, particularly in summer, and he had repeatedly asked BCP Council to install a crossing there.

”My wife is disabled and it is very difficult for her to cross there,” he told the A&T. “This summer it was extremely busy.

“In August the council were down here every night redoing the markings and crossings.

“I rang them and said, as they were here, could they put a zebra crossing there. I thought it was an ideal opportunity but they refused, saying it wasn’t in their schedule so I decided to do it myself.”

He paid £100 for materials and, with the help of two others, spent two hours painting the crossing on Chichester Way just a few hundred yards from his home.

Mr Phillips said he was thanked by local residents and neighbours, but his gesture was not so popular with the council and four days later the authority cleaned off the crossing.

He was then investigated by police for criminal damage.

The retired psychotherapist said he was threatened with arrest and was quizzed by officers, before being given a community resolution order under which he had to pay the fine.

He added: “I think it was a total waste of police time.”

Mr Phillips has since contacted the council several times asking for a crossing to be instated.

”They told me safety is their highest priority but are still saying it’s not on their schedule,” he said. “There are crossings on several intersections at the quay but not one on the approach, which is crazy.”

A BCP spokesperson said: “The situation regarding illegal marking has been resolved and we can confirm that we have received a formal request to place an intersection at this Mudeford Quay location.

“As with any other intersection request we receive, we will carefully evaluate the request to see if it is appropriate to create an official or informal intersection at this location.

“Safety remains our main concern.”