Here's why Blackpool Council has been working on Queen's Promenade

Work is underway to install two crossing points on a busy section of Blackpool Promenade after warnings residents were 'taking their lives in their hands' trying to reach the other side of the road.
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Bispham councillors Don Clapham and Paul Wilshaw have been campaigning for pedestrian refuges to be installed on Queen's Promenade - and now the council is carrying out the work.

Refuges are being built just south of Montpelier Avenue and near to Lowther Avenue to enable people to get halfway across the road, rather than having to negotiate traffic from both directions at the same time.

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Coun Clapham said: "People trying to cross the road were taking their lives in their hands.

Work at Queen's PromenadeWork at Queen's Promenade
Work at Queen's Promenade

"They were totally exposed in the middle of two lanes of traffic, inevitably going too fast.

"I can't remember how many years we have been trying to get refuges put in, but it was always knocked back because of cost and there was no accident rate to talk of.

"But for residents trying to get across, it was like a racetrack, and people were having to wait a very long time for a gap in the traffic especially if they had a pushchair or wheelchair or were quite slow crossing.

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"So I'm delighted that at long last this work is happening and that it will make it much safer for residents crossing the road."

It is hoped putting in refuges will help pedestrians cross the road while also keeping traffic flowing which is why a zebra crossing or a lights controlled crossing has not been installed.

The refuges, which cost more than £20,000 each, will include illuminated bollards to make them visible to motorists.

Councillors also campaigned for a pedestrian refuge on Clifton Drive, near the junction with Harrowside in South Shore, after residents raised safey fears.

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Squires Gate councillors Gerard Walsh and Christian Cox were presented with a petition in 2019 from residents and members of the Friends of Solaris Park.

Other recent new measures to make roads in the resort safer include the introduction of a 7.5 tonne weight limit on School Road in Marton amid fears development at the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone could lead to more traffic on the route which passes St Nicholas's Primary School.