EASTERN Green is set for a new pedestrian crossing after a two-year campaign, opposition councillors say.
Woodlands ward Conservative councillors have claimed Hockley Lane is one of the most dangerous roads in Coventry.
They say the road has a history of accidents and its ‘unique’ position close to two schools makes the installation of a new crossing particularly urgent.
But Labour cabinet member for city services, Jayne Innes, has slammed these claims as ‘lies’ in a fiery Twitter debate.
She hit back at Conservatives, claiming the road does not experience an alarming number of accidents.
She claims she was forced to consider the traffic calming measures due to a nearby school scrapping the road’s crossing patrol – which she blamed on Conservative government cuts.
The council will be consulting residents about the potential installation of the new puffin crossing, she says.
This is a crossing in which traffic lights only go green when no more pedestrians are detected on the crossing by infrared detectors and mats.
The consultation process is due to start on September 13 and last until October 4.
The council says the new crossing would be on Hockley Lane near to its junction with Church Lane and Upper Eastern Green Lane.
If there are no objections, work is set to begin next month, the council says.
Conservative campaigners claim its proximity to the countryside means the speed limit drops suddenly to 30mph – catching many motorists off guard.
They also believe many heavy goods vehicles are using the street as a cut through to the A45.
Leader of the Conservatives, councillor Gary Ridley, said his party would invest an extra £750,000 on road safety – including 15 similar traffic control schemes.
He said: “This is great news for the community and I hope people are able to support the proposal.
“For too long people have had to worry about crossing this dangerous road every time they take their kids to school.
“Council officers have worked hard to deliver this scheme but unfortunately it’s just one of a number of similar sites around the city where we need to invest in road safety.
“In the end isn’t the most basic job of the council to keep our children safe?”
Coun Innes said: “Hockley Lane isn’t an accident blackspot, and the combination of existing traffic calming measures and a school crossing patrol, would have been key on what is a long, straight and relatively busy road.
“The withdrawal of the school crossing patrol from this site concerned us, especially as many families need to collect young children from more than one school in the close vicinity. Those families have to cross at this point.
“I’d like to thank local residents for their patience while we have worked on this.”
