'Crossing not safe'

HORSERIDERS, cyclists and walkers will continue to have to dodge the traffic when negotiating a busy road out of Portishead - after plans to install a crossing hit a stumbling block.North Somerset Council approved plans to create a Pegasus crossing to link the two halves of the Gypsy Lane bridleway on the A369 at Portbury Hundred.But although permission for the scheme - expected to cost around £120,000 and be paid for by developers - has been agreed, police and road safety chiefs have now shown the project the red light based on highway safety grounds.Highway chiefs claim the crossing would be used so little that motorists would be used to a constant green light and drivers would not be used to stopping when it turned red.Councillors were also concerned that if the crossing was installed, it would be the fifth set of lights on the busiest route out of Portishead.Councillor Arthur Terry said: "This project has been in the pipeline for some time and clearly the intention to link up the bridleway is a good one."But there has been significant objections from the police and highways engineers and I think we would be very silly not to take their concerns very seriously."Portishead Town Council planning committee chairman Councillor Jean Lord said: "Wherever a new set of lights goes, it will be unpopular with drivers."There are already three sets of pedestrian lights on Wyndham Way plus the junction lights at McDonalds."This set would make five sets in a relatively short distance."The route - a public right of way - is used by walkers, horseriders and cyclists and the crossing would have been designed to allow horse riders to activate the lights without having to dismount.But following the concerns from police and highways staff, councillors have agreed to write to North Somerset asking it to look at alternative ways of providing a crossing point across the A369.