Every morning, my son faces a dangerous challenge when he tries to cross Portsdown Hill Road to reach the bus stop near the top of Farlington Avenue. With buses stopping there, numerous students, including my own child, must navigate this perilous crossing. Without a dedicated pedestrian crossing, these young people are left with no choice but to run across the busy road, hoping they don't get hit by oncoming traffic.  Students from both from Purbrook Park and Oaklands schools use these buses.  

I have personally witnessed the struggle parents endure while crossing with young children and pushchairs in tow. On several occasions, I have seen children almost stumble, and pushchairs nearly tip over as they dart across the road. This situation is not only stressful but incredibly unsafe for everyone involved.

Public statistics indicate that pedestrian accidents are a major concern, especially on roads without proper crossing facilities. Unfortunately, accidents involving young pedestrians are disproportionately higher in areas lacking safe crossings. Installing a crossing near the bus stops would dramatically improve safety and peace of mind for all users of this busy road.

The implementation of a crossing here would be an actionable and realistic solution. It is not just a want, but a need, for the safety and well-being of our community. With local government cooperation and support from concerned citizens, we can make this change happen.

We're calling on Portsmouth City Council to prioritize the installation of a pedestrian crossing on Portsdown Hill road, at the dropped curb near the top of Farlington Avenue by these bus stops. This small infrastructure improvement will have a significant impact on the daily lives of students, parents, and the community as a whole.

Please support this cause by signing the petition and helping us create a safer environment for the young people and families in our community. Your signature can make a real difference in preventing potential accidents and ensuring our children's safety.

The council have said they will monitor the area to see if it warrants a crossing and to see how many people use the bus stops, but I fear they will not see the true picture of how many people want to use this crossing/these bus stops as it's currently unsafe so people avoid.  

Therefore, I have started this petition to hopefully show the council transport department that the community would like to see this become a safer area and road to cross.

Many thanks

Stacey

p.s.  I have set up this Facebook group to post updates for you all https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Axxh3zfWi/?mibextid=wwXIfr