A CROSSING easily flooded by rain is a danger to pedestrians, say villagers in Wroughton who are accusing the borough council of compromising road safety.

They claim the crossing on Devizes Road, which passes through the heart of the village, is often submerged so deeply anyone stepping off the pavement needs boots.

But repeated attempts to get the council to make changes have fallen on deaf ears.

After the most recent downpour one resident strapped an inflatable rubber ring to one of the lampposts to highlight the problem.

Resident Pamela Durston said: “Every time it rains, the crossing floods. It becomes unusable and inpassable. People get soaked when they use the pavement near it. People are forced onto the road to then cross at a dry place.

“The parish council has been nagging Swindon Borough Council to do something but they will not do anything about it. I think it will take someone to get knocked over or killed before anything will be done.”

Talis Kimberley-Fairbourne, resident and parish councillor, said the problem had been going on since the crossing was installed near the junction, which is already confusing for drivers who often fail to stop for waiting pedestrians.

“It feels to me that the borough is refusing to address this problem and are prioritising drivers over pedestrians,” she said.

“It’s already dangerous, some people refuse to use it anyway. But imagine if you have a mobility scooter or small children.

"Pedestrian safety and convenience should be the priority here, and it isn’t”

Despite the concerns the borough council, which is responsible for improvements to road junctions, said the problem isn’t bad enough to warrant urgent changes.

“I know they are in a financial black hole,” she added, “but if we live in a country where vital services like these can’t be fixed, then where can it be?”

Swindon Borough Council did not respond it time before the Adver went to print yesterday evening.