RESIDENTS and a councillor are calling for safety improvements at a “potentially dangerous” road crossing outside a park home estate.
There is no pavement on either side of the entrance to Cleevewood Park on Cleeve Wood Road, between Downend and Frenchay.
People living at Cleevewood Park say the lack of a dropped kerb to access the pavement on the opposite side of the road means anyone who relies on a walking aid, mobility scooter or wheelchair faces having to use the side of the busy road to reach nearby shops and services.
Resident Valerie Hamblin said: “I often feel like a prisoner in my own home because I cannot safely cross the road to access local shops, services or even go for a walk independently.
“A simple dropped kerb and safe crossing point would give me and many of my neighbours the freedom to remain active, independent and connected to our community.”
Residents say increasing traffic volumes and speeding vehicles on the road, which is used by many drivers to avoid queues on the Avon Ring Road, have made crossing it “increasingly difficult and potentially dangerous”.
A formal highway improvement request has been made to South Gloucestershire Council, highlighting concerns over safety and accessibility, and proposing improvements including extending the existing pavement, installing dropped kerbs, creating a safer crossing point and installing traffic calming measures between Cleevewood Park and the Downend end of the road, where residents use shops and bus stops.
Frenchay & Downend ward councillor Liz Brennan is backing the bid for urgent improvements, and is calling on the council to provide a timetable for assessing and delivering them.
She said: “Residents of Cleevewood Park have highlighted a genuine and longstanding safety concern, which affects some of the most vulnerable members of our community.
“Many residents are older people who rely on walking aids, mobility scooters or wheelchairs, yet the current road layout makes accessing local services unnecessarily difficult and potentially unsafe.
“We fully support the request for improved pedestrian facilities, including dropped kerbs, safer crossing provision and traffic-calming measures.
“These improvements would make a real difference to residents’ independence, wellbeing and ability to remain connected to their community.
“The proposal also supports wider council objectives around accessibility, active travel, reducing social isolation and helping residents remain independent for longer.”
A council spokesperson said: “We received a formal request for a dropped kerb and associated works at Cleeve Wood Road in August.
“The request will be considered through our highway improvements assessment process, which is used to evaluate and prioritise proposals for road safety and accessibility improvements.
“Requests are assessed using a scoring system and if eligible, are prioritised alongside other schemes.
“Any proposal is subject to the outcome of the assessment process and the availability of capital funding.”