Action pledge over crossing on Doncaster road where 'near misses' happen daily

Residents say calls for a crossing on Edlington Lane near Hilltop Academy have been ongoing for at least 30 years, and this week an online petition they set up reached 1,000 names.

Now Doncaster Council has promised to carry out a 12 hour survey of the site, once lockdown ends.

Rob Reid, who sits on Edlington Town Council and Doncaster Council, set up the petition, supported by Hilltop Parents and Tots group, saying they were not prepared to wait for someone to be killed of injured.

He wants to see a puffin crossing installed.

He said: “We are campaigning for a crossing due to the huge amount of activity that goes on across the Hilltop estate, including Hilltop Academy, an outstanding school, The Helping Hands Community Centre, Sir Thomas Wharton Academy Vocational Centre and Buttons Day Nursery, who all rely on this crossing to access the entire estate.

"Edlington Lane is the busiest road in the community and near misses on the stretch happen daily outside the estate. We also want to highlight that the road is now accommodating lorries that are making pick ups and drop offs to Breedons quarry and now taking an increase of HGVs that will soon be on the road when the new quarry extension gets to full capacity.”

He said Doncaster Council had painted a red strip on the road to highlight the best place to cross, but it caused confusion for cars and pedestrians, with some vehicles stopping there there, but sometimes while cars were still travelling in the opposite direction.

Dan Swaine, director of economy at Doncaster Council said: “We are liaising with local Edlington groups about this situation and are planning to carry out a full assessment to determine whether a crossing is supported. This will include a 12 hour pedestrian and vehicle survey once the pandemic restrictions are lifted.”

He said safety improvements including pedestrian crossings were prioritised to the areas with the worst problems or highest levels of activity.

He added road safety was not all about such features, urging motorists to take personal responsibility for safety very seriously, and drive appropriately to the conditions and the law.

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