'UK's most dangerous zebra crossing' dubbed too risky for lollipop man
A zebra crossing outside a primary school is so hazardous that parents have been told they cannot have a lollipop lady.
Locals have been forced to watch on in horror as drivers plough straight across the crossing used by young school children in Banwell, Somerset. It is often obstructed by vehicles, and has no nearby school signs.
But parents who have asked North Somerset Council to take action on the crossing say they've been told it is too dangerous for a school crossing patrol, also called a lollipop lady or man. A top councillor called the situation “ridiculous”, but said it was caused by national health and safety guidance.
One worried mum-of-three in the village, who has urged the local council to do something, told Somerset Live: “It is an absolute miracle a child has not been killed.” Another village mum said: “The amount of times I have been caught on the crossing with my daughter and you just have cars that keep going over it. They have hit me with their wing mirrors before on the pavement walking my kid to school.”
North Somerset Council have reportedly told parents that the crossing is too dangerous for a lollipop lady (John Wimperis)Two major A-roads squeeze traffic into Banwell’s small village lanes, leading to frustrated drivers clogging up the village as they queue to get through “the narrows” — a tight section next to the village bakery where the road becomes a single track, and drivers have to wait for traffic coming the other way to squeeze through. A Banwell mum-of-three said that vehicles, including large cars and lorries, sit on the crossing waiting to get through the narrows - making it harder for people to see if cars are coming or for cars to see when children are crossing. She added: “The number of times you are peering around the back of vehicles and almost have your head taken off.”
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Another parent whose child had a near miss with a driver on the crossing said she was "thinking of moving next year" because the situation was "too stressful.” She added that she was also worried about the impact of the constant traffic fumes on her children’s health. The traffic stopped on the zebra crossing means many drivers may not even be aware it is there, Ms Robinson warned. She said: “There’s nothing to tell drivers there’s a school here.” Unlike schools in other villages, there are no school signs in Banwell and no reduced speed limits around the school.
Small village lanes in Banwell leave drivers queuing to get through 'the narrows' (John Wimperis)A bypass is planned around the village to tackle the traffic congestion. Should compulsory purchase orders go ahead following an upcoming committee meeting, the £89m bypass is hoped to open by May 2026. But parents say action is needed now to protect children in the village, and one mum recently presented a petition, also signed by 195 other parents, for a flashing school sign to be installed on the approach to the school.
In a statement to local media, Hannah Young, North Somerset Council’s executive member for highways and transport said: “North Somerset sustainable travel and road safety team, along with engineering colleagues, and the Banwell bypass team has been involved in conversations with Banwell Parish Council regarding the safety of children using the zebra crossing on West Street, Banwell.
“The crossing is design compliant, and as North Somerset Council continually monitors all reported injury accidents reported to the police, the location is not judged to be dangerous. It can be difficult to see both ways when there are large vehicles adjacent to the crossing which can limit visibility. Parents and guardians using the crossing are reminded to hold hands with younger children, and to ensure that the traffic has stopped in both directions, or that there are sufficient gaps in the traffic to cross at the zebra crossing.
“School crossing patrols are a non-statutory function and since 2016 North Somerset Council has been mitigating the need for these through installation of zebra crossings as at other locations, such as the new one being installed on Milton Road, Weston-super-Mare.
“There will be further improvements to walking and cycling routes when the Banwell Bypass is delivered. NSC recently awarded a design and build contract for this work, however, there are still some compulsory purchase orders outstanding.”
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