Parents: It's time to act (From Barry And District News)

Parents: It's time to act

CADOXTON residents who have been campaigning for a safer road crossing on Coldbrook Road marched through the centre of Barry last week to deliver a petition to the Vale of Glamorgan Council.

The petition, which has been signed by more than 800 people, was handed over to Cllr Rob Quick on Friday, June 17.

Residents want the council to replace the pedestrian refuge (traffic island) outside Coldbrook Stores with a pelican crossing.

Campaign Organiser Tracey Adams said: "I started this petition myself after one of my friends" little boys, who is five years old, was nearly knocked down at this crossing a few weeks ago.

"Thankfully he wasn"t seriously hurt - nevertheless it was a big shock to both him and his mother.

"A few of the problems are people parking outside the shop and blocking the view of people crossing, so they have to lean out onto the road to see if there is any traffic coming."

She added: "All the people who have signed the petition have said how dangerous the pedestrian refuge is, and decided it"s about time something was done before someone is killed."

Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesman Mark Hooper, who took part in the march, said: "This was a fun march, with a serious objective.

"We hope the council take notice and put children"s safety first.

"I"m confident we"ll get the support we need and get action quickly - if we don"t, this group of parents won"t give up easily, and I won"t stop actively supporting them."

A spokesperson for the council said: "The Vale of Glamorgan Council has safely received the residents" petition and will ensure it is put on the agenda for the next meeting of the relevant council committee."

* Pedestrian refuges or traffic islands are placed in the middle of wider roads where there is no crossing point. This helps to narrow the road giving pedestrians a safe area to wait before they cross the other half of the road. Drivers have priority at these traffic islands.