Valerie Shawcross thinks the new crossing will improve safety
A pedestrian crossing is being created at a dangerous West Norwood junction after two years of lobbying from the community.
Last week Transport for London (TfL) agreed to fund the installation of the crossing at the junction of Norwood Road, York Hill and Lancaster Avenue, where many accidents have happened in recent years.
It is currently being created and is due to be completed sometime in May.
In the last two years local councillors and community groups have campaigned for the crossing, including Lambeth and Southwark's Assembly Member, Valerie Shawcross.
"This is really good news because the difficulty and danger of crossing at this point in an otherwise busy shopping street does reduce residents' willingness to use the shops on both sides of the road, which is very wide at this point," she said.
"It will be much safer now for children, many of whom live on the nearby York Hill estate, and the vulnerable elderly.
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"Although the work is being carried out quickly now, it's taken a long time to get here. I think this will help to reconnect the streets once finished."
"It will be much safer now for children, many of whom live on the nearby York Hill estate, and the vulnerable elderly."
Valerie Shawcross
Chris Arnold, the owner of hardware shop F Strowger and Co in Norwood Road, thinks the crossing is long overdue.
"It's a busy junction and a horrible crossing, especially if you are slightly slow mover," he said. "I think the pedestrian crossing is a great thing and I hope it will help my business by making it easier for people to come in."
But other shopkeepers said the roadworks had been disruptive. Raj Singh, owner of A & S Homecare, which is on the corner of Norwood Road and York Hill, said he cannot display his products outside the shop while the work is going on.
"I'm hoping it gets done as soon as possible," he said. "But I think it's a great idea - there have been quite a few accidents here and it's not safe at all.
"This will absolutely prevent accidents happening and once it's completed will definitely be helpful for residents, pedestrians and shopkeepers."
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