'˜Dangerous' road needs new crossing say worried parents

Evan Liggins, 4, who goes to The Young Explorers nursery in Darley Dale joins staff and parents in their request for a safe crossing over the A6.

Harriet Halse says the A6 near the junctions of Old Road and Greenaway Lane is too dangerous to be crossed without assistance.

She also thinks the fact that a school and a nursery are nearby makes the lack of a decent crossing even harder to believe.

She said: “I have tried contacting the council numerous times over the past eight weeks but I have still not has a response.

Staff, children and parents from The Young Explorers nursery in Darley Dale make their case for a safe crossing over the A6.

“Given there is a nursery one side and a school the other, there should be something to help mothers, children and pedestrians to cross safely.”

But this week, after being contacted by the Mercury, council chiefs have pledged to look in to residents’ concerns.

Harriet, 28, lives with her three-year-old daughter Maisie - on Dale Road North in Darley Dale.

Maisie currently attends the Young Explorer’s Day Nursery on the Old Road side of the A6.

But she will move up to Darley Dale Primary School on the Greenaway Lane side next year.

Harriet’s petition has already attracted 135 supporters online and she has also left copies of it in the reception areas of both the school and the nursery.

One supporter, Emily Bonsall, from Matlock, said she thought it was ‘ridiculous’ that there was still no crossing.

She added: “The nursery offers an out of hours school service linked directly to the primary school which is invaluable to the local community.

“Yet they are required to cross children with no additional safety.

“The pavements on that particular junction are very narrow and with limited crossing people are expected to walk alongside a very busy main road.”

Sarah Sutcliffe, of Darley Dale, said: “Having had to cross this road for numerous years whilst taking my son to nursery, I am shocked something hasn’t been done sooner, it is a terribly dangerous crossing and the sooner this is sorted, the better.”

Michelle Lester, also of Darley Dale, added: “A crossing is desperately needed here. At peak times it’s impossible to cross safely.”

Councillor Dean Collins, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructure said: “We are aware of residents’ concerns and we will consider the petition when it’s submitted to us.”

To sign the petition visit https://www.facebook.com/safercrossinga6.