New crossing at St George's CE Primary School in Westhoughton delayed

Parents approached councillors in Westhoughton and Daisy Hill for an update on the new crossing on The Hoskers outside St George’s CE Primary School.

Councillors contacted Bolton Council for an update to ask why there is a delay and if the crossing would be finished in time for the start of return to school.

The council responded to Cllr David Wilkinson in an email stating: “We are currently awaiting the electrical connections for the Belisha beacons from Electricity North West and our street lighting.

“I haven’t got a date yet for when this will be but as soon as it is done, we will be back to finish off the works.

“As such I can’t currently say with any certainty whether it will be completed for when the schools go back, but we will do our best.”

Cllr Wilkinson said he is disappointed that the works have been delayed as parents have been waiting since 2019 to have a crossing installed outside the school.

He said: “I have to say I am extremely disappointed with Bolton Council.

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Cllr David Wilkinson, Cllr Alison Jackson and Cllr Deirdre McGeown previously stood on the crossing (Image: Cllr Wilkinson)

“We have been at this now for a long while, when we first approached the council, it was way back in 2019 when the lollypop person went and then Covid came along and sometimes I feel like I am queueing bricks, when I got the email, I have to say I was very disappointed.

“I hope they can make the electrical connections in time before the school opens but I have a feeling they are not going to do.

“We have had three months to plan this, get it sorted and get it installed and we end up with a delay, so I am very annoyed about it, that we have ended up with another school year with the crossing probably not in place.

“It is very disappointing, I know the council is under pressure, there are not enough bodies to do everything, but it is very annoying to put it mildly.”

The Highways Department at the council said they did not get asked to look at the provision of a crossing until 2021 and once they did it was added to a programme of zebra crossing installations.

The highways department then obtained funding in autumn last year so they "could only start the process then which involves feasibility studies and consultation with the police which is a legal requirement".

A council spokesperson said: “We understand the frustration people are feeling at the time taken to install the crossing.

“We have obtained funding for this and other locations from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and carried out the necessary legal consultations.

“The majority of the installation work has been completed during the school holidays, but we are now waiting for Electricity North West to carry out the necessary electrical connections for the Belisha beacons before we can commission the crossing.

“Unfortunately, we do not have any control over when they will carry out the work, but we hope that it will be as soon as possible so that the facility can be brought in to use.”

Works on the crossing first began at the start of this month and Cllr Wilkinson has previously said how parents and residents in the area are eager for the crossing due to it being a "problem" area.

Headteacher of the school, Philip Ivory, also previously said the school is pleased the crossing is being installed.

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @chloewjourno.