Plan to redesign busy crossing gets £1.4m funding

Plans to make a pedestrian crossing in Doncaster city centre safer have been awarded £1.4m in funding.

North Bridge Road and Trafford Way can currently only be crossed in three stages and the council said the route could be dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists.

Doncaster City Council's proposals would see the crossings aligned and reduced from three stages to two, meaning people would not have to wait in the middle of Trafford Way.

James Church, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, planning and public health, welcomed the funding from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, saying the changes would "improve safety for all users".

A council report said pedestrians and cyclists currently crossed the roads outside of the crossing areas because of a conflict in the alignment of the traffic islands, which increased the risk of people being struck by vehicles.

A consultation on the authority's proposals for the crossing found the changes were supported by most businesses and residents, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Church said: "It is a busy route with over 6,000 pedestrians and 400 cyclists going in and out of Doncaster on a daily basis."

However, a spokesperson for Reform UK said investment needed to be focused across communities rather than in the city centre.

"The proposed £1.4m redesign of the crossing will be welcomed by some, but it comes at a time when residents across Doncaster are raising concerns about potholes, worn pavements and day-to-day road safety," they said.

"It's important that investment in the city centre is balanced with the needs of our wider communities, ensuring all residents see improvements in the places where they live and travel every day."

Councillors accepted the funding and the proposals to move ahead with the scheme at a meeting on Wednesday.

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