Every weekday, my brother and I rely on the bus stop in our village of Eaton to travel to school. However, walking to the bus stop requires us to cross both lanes of a busy A-road close to a corner where it is difficult to see oncoming traffic. It also means that we have to cross a junction that has been the site of several recent traffic accidents. This puts us in potential serious danger.

A few years ago, Nottinghamshire County Council installed a refuge in the middle of the road to enable pedestrians to only need to cross one lane of traffic at a time to get to the bus stop. However this safety measure was subsequently removed, despite similar refuges being retained at other crossings along the A638.

Our Parish Council has raised concerns about pedestrian safety with Nottinghamshire County Council but have been advised that further investigation will not currently be undertaken due to an alleged lack of evidence regarding pedestrian usage. We believe this does not reflect the genuine concerns and lived experiences of local residents.

Pedestrian safety should be a priority in any community, and Eaton should be no different. The current pedestrian infrastructure does not meet the safety needs of its residents, particularly children, the elderly, families with pushchairs and those with mobility issues.

We therefore request that Nottinghamshire County Council:

1. Reconsider the reinstatement of a pedestrian refuge or the introduction of an alternative safe crossing facility.
2. Explore reducing the speed limit on this stretch of the A638 to 30mph.
3. Consider installing warning signage including children crossing and elderly pedestrian signs.

Join us in urging Nottinghamshire County Council to take swift action to improve pedestrian safety. Sign this petition to demand the changes that our community needs for a safer future.