THE council today launched a public consultation on proposals to introduce a signalised pedestrian crossing at the Kingsdown crossroads.

It comes eight months after a 32-year-old mum was killed as she tried to cross Beechcroft Road.

During the inquest into the death of Pinehurst resident Nina Maggs, senior coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon David Ridley sent a letter to Swindon Borough Council urging them to consider ways in which they can make the crossroads safer for pedestrians.

He said: “The controls [at the crossings] do not seem to resemble any protection for pedestrians like a pelican crossing would, which would give an indication to the person trying to cross that the road is safe to do so.

“The crossing gives a false sense to anyone who uses it that it is safe to cross.”

As a result, the borough council’s highway engineers have been considering changes that can be made at the dangerous junction to improve pedestrian safety.

The options being considered are: to provide zebra crossings for pedestrians; to provide signal controlled crossings on one arm of the junction at a time; and to provide signal controlled crossings on all arms of the junction at the same time – an ‘all red’ stage, which is the preferred option.

It is not recommended to combine zebra crossings with signal controlled junctions due to the confusion it may create over who has priority – pedestrians or traffic on a green light.

A week after the accident, residents in the area called on Swindon Borough Council to make the crossroads safer by installing a pedestrian crossing. They launched a petition which garnered more than 1,800 signatures in a week.

Emily Blackmore, 28, who lives in Kingsdown Road, penned a letter to North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson asking for his help in addressing the safety issue.

Justin Tomlinson said at the time: “Concerns have previously been raised about the safety of this area by the head of Kingsdown School and some local residents, which I have relayed those back to Swindon Borough Council.”

A spokesman from Swindon Borough Council said yesterday: “We take the safety of pedestrians and drivers extremely seriously and we are looking at proposals to make the Kingsdown crossroads junction safer following the tragic accident in February.

“One of the proposals being considered involves installing signalised pedestrian crossing facilities. However, introducing such a change will lead to increased delays for motorists, especially at peak times, and so it is important we engage with the local community and users of the junction.

“The responses received will be shared with local ward councillors and the cabinet member responsible for highways and will be used to inform the decision on what is the most appropriate measure to introduce at the junction.”

People have until Monday, October 9 to say which option they would like to see implemented.

The proposals can be viewed by logging on to www.swindon.gov.uk and following the link marked ‘consultations’.