Neglected crossing a '˜danger' to Pagham villagers

A neglected pedestrian crossing has become a danger to a village, residents have warned.
Pagham residents pointing to faded lines marking a bus stop, where a lorry has parked. Picture Kate Shemilt ks16000860-2 SUS-160725-193642008Pagham residents pointing to faded lines marking a bus stop, where a lorry has parked. Picture Kate Shemilt ks16000860-2 SUS-160725-193642008
Pagham residents pointing to faded lines marking a bus stop, where a lorry has parked. Picture Kate Shemilt ks16000860-2 SUS-160725-193642008

The white lines at the zebra crossing in Pagham, outside the parade of shops along Pagham Road, are worn and virtually non-existent, leaving elderly residents scared to cross.

Cars ‘speed through without stopping’ and there have been a number of near misses, people living at the nearby Mill Farm residential homes say.

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Arthur Guppy said: “It’s over nine months since I first reported it to the county council’s highways agency and still nothing has been done.

Residents making the 'dangerous' crossing in Pagham Road ks16000860-1 SUS-160725-193604008Residents making the 'dangerous' crossing in Pagham Road ks16000860-1 SUS-160725-193604008
Residents making the 'dangerous' crossing in Pagham Road ks16000860-1 SUS-160725-193604008

“I’ve been on and one at them to repaint the white lines because it’s dangerous.

“I was told last year it was a priority and would be done in a few weeks, but that was months ago.

“There’s 270 homes in Mill Farm and most people living there are elderly and scared to cross. The cars speed through the crossing without paying any attention anyway.”

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Mr Guppy said the white lines at the nearby bus stop had also faded badly to a point they could hardly be seen.

A bus is forced to stop away from the bus stop due to a lorry parking in the designated place.ks16000860-3 SUS-160725-193629008A bus is forced to stop away from the bus stop due to a lorry parking in the designated place.ks16000860-3 SUS-160725-193629008
A bus is forced to stop away from the bus stop due to a lorry parking in the designated place.ks16000860-3 SUS-160725-193629008

He said: “We pay our road taxes but because we’re a little village in the sticks we’re just getting forgotten.

“It’s an absolute disgrace. If there’s an accident I will personally hold the West Sussex Highways responsible.

Fellow resident Fay Rideout said the crossing was well used by families. She said a husband and wife who were crossing narrowly escaped being struck by a car which didn’t stop.

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Mrs Rideout said: “At the moment we feel like we are the poor relation to Bognor.

“I live at Mill Farm, we’re all over a certain age and it’s been horrendous trying to cross. The children break up from school this week so the traffic will be immense, it’s so dangerous.”

A council spokesman said works had been ordered for refurbishment and they hoping to have them completed in the next two weeks.

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