Serious concern has been expressed again about the safety of the long-delayed introduction of a Puffin crossing in narrow Bridewell Street, to allow Marlborough College female students living in the nearby Ivy House hostel to cross the road.
Members of the Town Council’s Planning Committee last night (Monday) decided to tell Wiltshire Council’s highways department that they are “alarmed” by the prospect of the crossing, originally proposed in October, 2012, and objected to then.
Planning consent green light was finally given in February this year after a planning inspector ruled out the Town Council’s objections and those of residents, in particular over the necessity to knock down part of the College’s “medieval” boundary wall to widen the pavement.
The renewed protest came last night as a result of a notification from Wiltshire Council that the project was going ahead.
Councillor Peggy Dow warned of the danger of cars confronting the crossing after negotiating the roundabout outside the College’s main gates.
“You’re going to find that cars are going to put their foot down as they come out of that roundabout and we’re going to have more children hurt with the introduction of this crossing than we had before,” she declared. “It is unjustified.”
Councillor Noel Barrett-Morton said the crossing should be rejected because it was unnecessary and was told that the council had objected originally.
It was pointed out that there had been no accidents at this point but Councillor Dow interjected: “But there will be. The crossing is just by the roundabout. It’s serious.”
Committee chairman Councillor Mervyn Hall said it was difficult to comment on the notification as no details had been provided.
Councillor Richard Allen insisted: “We ought to congratulate Wiltshire Council and its highways department for their continued and consistent attempts to gridlock Marlborough.”
Councillor Barrett-Morton agreed but Councillor Alexander Kirk Wilson put a different view: “I have some sympathy with poor old Marlborough College,” he said among shouts from other councillors. “I am sure they are being pressurised by neurotic parents worried that their children might get run over.
“It is not a dangerous road to cross. The traffic is very, very slow at the roundabout with a very sharp, right-angled bend. Children who are old enough, as teenagers, know how to look where they’re going.
“They’re not toddlers. They can see what the traffic is and they can negotiate their way across.”
Councillor Hall: “Shall we make the comment that we are alarmed about safety?”
Councillor Alec Light agreed. “That would be logical,” he said.
And town clerk Shelley Parker told councillors: “I shall go back to Wiltshire and say we are alarmed about safety.”
No date has yet been specified as to when the College’s boundary wall will be altered and the Puffin crossing installed.
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