I've got no faith in these crossings... I could have been killed'

RESIDENTS SAY CROSSING A MAJOR ROAD HAS BECOME A DAILY NIGHTMARE AFTER A FOOTBRIDGE WAS REMOVED

- By ELLIOT JESSETT Local Democracy Reporter

PEOPLE have told the Liverpool ECHO about their near-death experiences on a Merseyside road where even the 'green man' can't be trusted.

The experiences have become all too common for the residents of the Park Lane estate as they described their fear of crossing Dunnings Bridge Road, after the removal of a well-used public bridge.

The footbridge had been located over the A5036 for decades, and was considered a place where families could safely cross the four-lane carriageway, but that was demolished after a traffic accident in 2022.

In August of this year, the ECHO reported on National Highways' (NH) decision to shelve plans for a new footbridge. At the time, Sefton Council told the LDRS that NH had "gone back on its commitment" to replace the footbridge and accused it of disregarding the wishes of the local community, many of whom described the road as an accident waiting to happen.

There was an accident on the road last month (November 25) when police reported a collision involving a lorry and a mobility scooter. The rider of the mobility scooter, a man in his 90s, is believed to have suffered a serious leg injury. The driver of the HGV stopped at the scene and assisted police with enquiries.

Although the circumstances of that accident are unknown, it has shaken up the local community who are calling on National Highways to reconsider plans to reinstate the footbridge.

Last week, the ECHO visited the area to find out what local people thought.

As we were waiting to cross Dunnings Bridge Road, we got speaking to Philomena Farrell, 85, who was on her way to church. Ms Farrell has lived on the Park Lane estate for 20 years and frequently used the old footbridge to get across what she says has always been a very busy carriageway.

Ms Farrell said: "It's no longer safe to cross this road, not at this point, and especially for the children.