Sue Pye and Ken Rees present a petition to Coun Michael Barnes Picture Ref: 77177-25RESIDENTS campaigning for a pedestrian crossing on a Rodbourne road are worried Swindon Council will put it in the wrong place.

The council is considering a crossing north of the Sainsbury's supermarket roundabout on Paddington Drive.

But Ken Rees of Raybrook Crescent started a petition for the council to install it south of the roundabout.

He has 130 signatures from residents so far.

The retired 69-year-old said: "It's very dangerous. People can't cross the road because it's so busy and the traffic is very fast.

"The cars come round the corner so fast. It's a 30mph limit but some go faster. Sometimes you can wait five or ten minutes before you can cross."

Mr Rees, who has lived at Raybrook Crescent for 35 years, said: "A lot of us have mobility scooters and it's very dangerous for us. We feel nervous."

Mr Rees said the residents might stage a protest if the council puts the crossing in the wrong place.

Coun Michael Barnes (Lab, Western) has met the other Western ward councillors and the council traffic management and road safety team to discuss the best site.

He wants to guarantee it is not north of the Sainsbury's roundabout.

Mr Barnes said: "At the north side it would mean pedestrians from Rodbourne and the Churchward estate would still have to cross a busy road to Sainsbury's and Homebase.

"People will be furious to see a crossing at an inappropriate place."

Sainsbury's Emma Garner said: "We welcome council plans to improve road safety for our customers."

Swindon Council spokesman Gavin Calthrop said: "After a site meeting with the ward councillors, officers are now looking at an alternative site.

"Traffic flow analysis will take place before a final decision is made in the near future."

Lyndsay Scanlan