A new zebra crossing will be installed close to St. Lawrence School in East Molesey, after local Conservative Councillor Steve Bax and MP Dominic Raab supported a 1,000-signature petition by parents calling for improved safety for local children. The petition was started by a parent following a distressing incident where a child narrowly avoided being struck by a vehicle. The headteacher and governors of St. Lawrence in Church Road supported the call for a zebra crossing and reached out to Steve and Dominic for help. Surrey Highways officers assessed the situation and determined the ‘desire lines’ that children and pedestrians use to cross the road. Using a budget specifically for safety outside schools, they introduced a raised section of road with three new tactile crossing points.
An extensive consultation process sought to capture and respect the diverse viewpoints within the Molesey community. This provided support for a new 20mph limit for Church Road and surrounding streets, and for a zebra crossing at a well-used desire line.
Residents were also consulted on the location and specifics of the proposed crossing, earlier this year. 516 residents took part, reflecting a broad spectrum of community perspectives with 63% in favor and 35% against the proposal.
Councillor Bax said
This is a great result for the school and the community. We all know how chaotic the environment and hazardous the roads outside schools can be in the mornings and early afternoons. Having a zebra crossing will undoubtedly make journeys safer and encourage more walking and cycling. I am grateful to the residents who campaigned and took the time to participate in the consultation process, as well as the hard work of our officers in finding the right solutions to this problem.
Our detailed plan for the crossing includes extending the curb to slow cars at critical turn points and placing the new zebra crossing 7 meters from the junction to maximize pedestrian safety. Additionally, the design will incorporate special cowling around the crossing's beacons to minimize light pollution, demonstrating a thoughtful consideration of all residents' concerns.
Work is due to begin in April with a further crossing planned for Molesey in the summer, this time outside St. Alban's Primary School.
