Crossing scheme will turn a zebra into a puffin

Work on changing a pedestrian crossing in Paignton is to

get underway early in March.

 

The zebra crossing on Dartmouth Road at Waterside is to

be changed to a signal controlled puffin crossing.

 

It follows a petition backed by the RNIB, calling for

improved facilities to aid people with visual impairments when crossing the

road.

 

Torbay Council's Transportation Working Party gave the

go-ahead for the £60,000 scheme last October.

 

Work will begin on site on Monday 4 March, and will take

up to four weeks to complete.

 

The puffin crossing will be constructed outside the

Waterside public house to comply with current Department of Transport

guidelines.

 

Construction work will take place outside peak morning

and evening traffic flows, with two-way traffic lights operating on the dual

carriageway section of Dartmouth Road. Parking facilities will be affected

whilst work is taking place.

 

As the scheme progresses, temporary pedestrian traffic

signals will be used while the zebra crossing is removed and until the new

puffin crossing comes into operation.

 

Cllr Robert Excell, Executive Lead for Safer Communities

and Transport, said: "We have been aware for some time about concerns from

people with visual impairments about their safety when crossing the extremely

busy Dartmouth Road.

 

"We were unable to adapt the existing crossing as it

would not comply with Government guidelines, so the working party eventually

was recommended to approve its replacement with a puffin crossing.

 

"The draft design originally proposed the loss of

four car parking spaces, but I am pleased to confirm that the final approved

design will reduce this number to only three."