'Pedestrians playing Russian Roulette at junction'

The junction is on the boundary of Manchester and Salford

Pedestrians are playing "Russian Roulette" with their lives at a busy junction due to a lack of safe crossings, a councillor has claimed.

The area sits where Bury Old Road meets Middleton and Leicester Roads on the boundary of Salford and Manchester, close to Crumpsall Hospital.

Salford opposition conservative councillor Ari Leitner said changes were urgently needed to improve safety and stop people having to "dash" between cars to cross.

Labour councillor Mike McCusker - the lead member for planning, transport and sustainable development - said the authority was aware of community concerns about the site.

McCusker added: "We have investigated the recorded injury collision history and consider that there is no pattern of collisions that would indicate a common deficiency with the junction arrangement.

"Any proposed improvement could be a renewal of the junction, delivering improved pedestrian and cycle facilities whilst balancing the needs for bus and other road users at this busy junction."

'Saving lives'

Two girls, both aged 16, were injured on 6 September in a collision at the junction, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Leitner said he wrote to Salford council in 2022 asking for a review of the junction, but nothing was done.

He said there was a lack of pelican crossings, meaning cars were moving at all times without a gap for people to get to the traffic islands safely.

"There's no way for pedestrians to know when they can and can't cross, and it's a miracle nothing's happened until now," he said.

"You're playing Russian roulette, you're standing at the junction... you can't see the traffic lights at the other three streets, you've no idea if they're about to start going."

He said the upgrading the roundabout was likely to take around six months and cost around £1m.

"This is saving lives. It's what people pay their council tax for," he added.

He said the council was "exploring funding opportunities" with Manchester City Council and Transport for Greater Manchester for improvements.

Manchester City Council was approached for comment.