Shared Space requires Shared Responsibilty (Southend Liberal Democrats)

Southend Liberal Democrats <info@southendlibdems.co.uk>

Shared Space requires Shared Responsibilty

June 10, 2011 8:25 AM

Liberal Democrats today called for a new approach to the problems of pedestrians crossing Southends new City Beach scheme. Whilst supporting the idea of average speed cameras to be provided by a local benefactor the new scheme needed a clearly defined 'crossing point(s)' in order to make it obvious where crossing would take priority.

Recently it has become an issue of safety in that no one appeared to know whose responsibility it is to give way crossing from the "dry side" to the "wet side" and back, of Southends seafront.

Cllr Peter Wexham, Libdem Shadow portfolio holder for Highways, made it clear that Liberal Democrats had supported the concept of 'shared space' and allowed time for it to be successfully implemented, as elsewhere in the country where it is a success, but the time had come to clarify whose right of way takes priority and that, he said, is difficult.

Leader of the LibDems on Southend Council, Cllr Graham Longley said that 'shared space' required 'shared responsibility' but, that help was needed to make it clear where the shared responsibility exsisted. There needed to be a clearly identified area where pedestrians could cross and motorists knew they may have to stop.

This did not need to be a zebra type crossing but an clearly signed point that both pedestrian & motorist knew would be likely to see joint use of the space available.

As shadow portfolio holder Peter Wexham also made it clear that if the Conservatives were not prepared to listen to the argument and continued to put peoples lives at risk, Liberal Democrats would hold tham responsible. He added that such a crossing point, if still needed, would be in the LibDem manifesto proposals at the next elections.