Road safety campaign calls for crossing in village

Kristina Walsh is part of a group campaigning for a crossing in the village

Residents will use a pop-up zebra crossing as part of a road safety campaign in their village.

People in Tutshill, in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, have voiced concerns about speeding and a shortage of safe places to cross the road.

A temporary crossing, made up of a black and white coloured sheet, is set to be placed outside Tutshill Primary School on Tuesday morning to call for a permanent crossing to be installed.

Gloucestershire County Council said: "Road safety is our priority and we are committed to working with communities to make the roads safer."

Residents have also called for a 20mph speed limit and speed cameras

Kristina Walsh, a resident and campaigner, said the village needed a zebra crossing.

"Tutshill is a lovely community. It used to be quite small but now with all the developments it has increased exponentially in size.

"We have three schools, two nurseries, a park, a cafe, a GP surgery and two shops and believe it or not we have zero zebra crossings across the whole village.

"We know there are 25,000 cars passing through our village in just seven days. It really is a miracle that nobody has been run over."

Campaigners are asking for at least two pedestrian crossings in Tutshill, as well as a 20mph speed limit and speed cameras.

Gloucestershire Police will be present while the pop-up crossing is in place for safety reasons, and the campaigners are planning to meet their MP on Friday.

'Reassure residents'

A council spokesperson said: "We want to reassure residents that the safety record in that area is good and there has only been one road traffic collision, north of the school and not during school peak times, in the last five years.

"However, we do understand residents' concerns and have repainted road markings to highlight issues to drivers, have undertaken traffic and speed surveys and in spring, we will also be installing a vehicle activated sign as part of our Community Speedwatch Programme, to encourage drivers not to exceed the speed limit.

"We are also undertaking a feasibility study to investigate how travel to school could be improved for pupils. This will include understanding how crossing facilities could be improved and if it is appropriate to reduce speed limits."