A BUSY junction must be improved for safety reasons before a multi-storey car park is built at a railway station, it is claimed.

Witham county councillor James Abbott is looking to secure funding to change the junction where Collingwood Road meets The Avenue.

The Green councillor says he is concerned about the pedestrian islands in the area and believes safety is being compromised by increased traffic and vehicles parked in the road.

A new multi-storey car park set to be built at Witham Station means traffic fears are likely to increase in the coming years.

Mr Abbott says he wants to see improvements made for both drivers and pedestrians.

He said: “This junction has changed very little since I walked back from school through there 50 years ago. But obviously since then traffic levels and pedestrian use in that area, including from the railways station, have increased substantially.

“I am submitting a safety scheme bid to the local highways panel, having met recently with the cabinet member for highways at County Hall to discuss the junction.

“There are several things that need to be looked at including potentially adjusting the design of the mini-roundabout to reduce the risk of vehicles hitting the pedestrian refuge at the top of The Avenue.

“The refuge itself needs to be made safer for pedestrians.

“All the footways in that area need looking at for resurfacing and the crossing points need modern tactile surfacing to help those with limited vision.”

Mr Abbott claims the junction of Collingwood Road and The Avenue has become a hotspot for collisions in recent years, with some cars even hitting road signs.

Despite previously failing to secure funding for improvements, he insists changes must be made before the new station car park is built in Easton Road.

He added: “I did previously ask if it would be possible to obtain funding from the planned expansion of Witham railway station to contribute to improvements but this was turned down.

“I felt that was a missed opportunity. It is important we progress an improvement at this junction which is only going to get busier with more road traffic and more people needing to safely cross the road.”

The county council’s highways panel will make a decision on Mr Abbott’s request later this year.