Lowford: Residents call for 'dangerous' zebra crossing to be replaced

Jackie Carrington is still demanding answers following a shocking double hit-and-run that left her with a fractured wrist. 

She was clipped by a van and then nudged out of the way by a car during the disturbing incident on Portsmouth Road, Bursledon, last December. 

Since then, a lollipop lady has had a near miss and a young couple with a baby were almost hit by a bus at the same spot.

But now - Jackie has now joined forces with Lowford residents to demand action from Hampshire County Council.

Jackie Carrington, Ceridwen Brinkers, and Richard Habgood by the zebra crossing (Image: Maya George, Newsquest)

She said: “Truthfully, my hopes have faded on the police being able to catch the driver.

“But, I am really hopeful common sense prevails in our quest for a pelican crossing before there is a fatality.”

The council confirmed the incident – which happened more than three months ago – is still being investigated. The police investigation has been filed.

Jackie’s manager Chantal Francis said the road needs traffic lights.

READ MORE: Hundreds sign petition to stop dangerous driving along busy road

She said: “To think one of my staff members was leaving from a hard day at work and then was completely ignored in the middle of the road is really inhumane.

“I do think there needs to be traffic lights there as it’s clearly a dangerous crossing.

“The council needs to start acting now. 

“If it’s going to take a fatality for this to be addressed, then the council needs to be proactive and not reactive.

“We would like Jackie to get the justice she needs. Those drivers should be made to answer for what they did.”

Jackie Carrington (Image: Maya George, Newsquest)

READ NEXT: Woman hit by two vehicles on ‘Wild West’ road calls for pedestrian crossing

The call for safety measures has been backed by concerned residents.

For Richard Habgood, the answer lies in removing several ‘hazards’ on the road.

The 61-year-old private hire driver said: “There’s an obvious issue and there’s not enough noise being made for there to be action.

“The chicanes need to go as people are looking at them and not at the crossing.

“People race down the road and they are looking for gaps between the parked cars.

“A raised crossing would be good as it acts as a speed hump.”

He added: “I am a bit disappointed the council hasn’t put any proposals forward for what they are going to do here.

“We are not getting feedback from them, and we really would like it.”

The zebra crossing on Portsmouth Road (Image: Maya George, Newsquest)

Resident of 15 years Ceridwen Brinkers, a 66-year-old administrator, said she’s seen ‘quite a change’ since 2008.

She said: “The road has become a rat-run. People now use it to bypass the Windhover Roundabout and Hamble Lane.

“Particularly during rush hour, the traffic is immense.

“People park on the road so it’s basically one lane, so by the time people get to the zebra crossing they whip past without looking.”

A Hampshire County Council spokesperson said: “The investigation relating to the pedestrian crossing on Portsmouth Road in Bursledon is ongoing.

“Hampshire Highways has also been monitoring the crossing to observe driver behaviour.

“Once the investigation is concluded, we will look at all relevant information to assess whether further interventions are required to improve safety at this location.”