‘Dangerous’ road to get pelican crossing

Bexley Council had said the traffic light-controlled crossing in Perry Street, Crayford, would not be ready until the schools break up for the summer holidays.

But within two days of calls from News Shopper, it was promising to have the necessary work done next week.

Work began on installing the crossing at the beginning of the year and people were promised it would be ready by the end of March. But 10 weeks on, the lights have still not been switched on.

Angry dad, Alan Cooper whose 11-year-old triplets Catherine, Andrew and Emily attend nearby St Paulinus C of E Primary School in Iron Mill Lane, was concerned because the lollipop lady, who usually sees them across Perry Street, is on holiday.

“Perry Street is a dangerous road even with a school crossing patrol,” he said.

His concerns were echoed by St Paulinus headteacher Adam Higgins who said: “We have heard nothing from Bexley for months about the crossing. It is such a busy road. There have already been a number of accidents at the junction with the High Street. It won’t be long before a child is involved in one.” Transport for London (TfL), which controls the activation of crossings, demands they include an anti-skid road surface.

First, News Shopper was told Bexley’s contractors were currently too busy to lay the surface. Then the council told us the contractor had agreed to delay another job to start work in Perry Street this week. But the current surface is not suitable to lay an anti-skid coating on top. So workmen will lay “wearing course” which will have to be left to settle for 28 days before the anti-skid surface can be applied. Finally the council told News Shopper the wearing course would have an extra ingredient added to make the surface rough enough to satisfy TfL. The anti-skid surface will be added next month If the weather enables the work to be done, the crossing could be in action by the end of this week.