Road users and pedestrians can make their views known about controversial road crossings from next month.

A public consultation into how the Heart of Hackbridge project, in London Road, can be improved will begin on Monday, November 16.

The "informal" crossings, that were introduced last year to replace controlled crossing points and do not have traffic lights, have been the target of sustained criticism.

Eight-year-old Max Vidal-Reed was knocked down by a car in London Road earlier this month and visually-impaired shoppers have said they are scared to cross the "shared space".

Blind residents have said the too frightened to cross the road using the "shared space".

A Sutton Council spokesman said after the crash: "We have been working with the police, Transport for London, London Buses and the Greater London Authority on the designs, as well as meeting with community representatives from Hackbridge Primary School, Hackbridge Safety First and Sutton Vision.

"We have also met with traders. Following their input, the designs are now being road safety audited before going out to public consultation shortly."

New safety options include:

  • Installing a zebra crossing in Hackbridge Road to serve Hackbridge Primary School. This crossing would replace the current informal crossing nearest the school
  • Removing the informal crossing immediately south of the roundabout between All Tile Ceramics and Sainsbury's
  • Creating a fully traffic light-controlled junction between the Felnex trading estate junction and Hackbridge Station, as part of the Felnex redevelopment
  • Designating new crossing points

During a House of Lords debate on shared spaces last week Lord Tope, who is a former Sutton Liberal Democrat MP and council leader, admitted that the informal crossings in Hackbridge had effectively excluded some residents.

He said: "Councillors and officers alike said that the present guidance is woefully inadequate and sometimes contradictory, particularly in respect of the needs of visually impaired people.

"The provision of so many informal crossings, but no controlled crossings, on busy roads means that the visually impaired no longer feel safe crossing those roads.

"We have produced a visually attractive scheme which has had the effect of excluding a significant minority of the local community."

The £1.4m scheme was intended to improve the area by making it more attractive and accessible and introducing step-free access to shops plus wider footways.

But road safety campaigners blasted the introduction of informal "courtesy crossings", claiming vulnerable pedestrians such as children and the disabled were at risk.