Portsmouth Labour are continuing their campaigning with residents in Old Portsmouth to improve road safety in the area and calling on the council to install a new zebra crossing.

Working with local campaigner Sumel Chowdhury, Stephen Morgan MP has been hearing concerns from residents and community groups in Old Portsmouth about the need to improve road safety in the area.

Taking a number of actions, Mr Chowdhury has set up a petition (at the bottom of this article) to lobby the council, written to local residents, organised a street stall to hear views and ideas, and called on city MP Stephen Morgan for support.

Issues being raised with campaigners include the speeding of vehicles along the High Street and at the junction with Pembroke and Lombard Street and the need for improved crossing facilities for local shops, St Jude’s School and the Cathedral.

Local campaigner Sumel Chowdhury said:

“Concerns have been raised with me regarding pedestrian safety in Old Portsmouth; although there are two pedestrian refuge islands on the High Street, residents have told me they are not secure enough for children and elderly residents cross safely, I’ve seen for myself that pedestrians struggle here as vehicle are often speeding. Instead of bollards, a zebra crossing would be safer and far more secure. I need your help to make this reality for our community so I have setup a online petition in support of this and I urge you to sign it”.

Backing Sumel’s campaign, Stephen Morgan MP said:

“I am grateful to Sumel for setting up a community petition to the council to ensure they take action and to understand the strength of feeling on this issue.

I thank Sumel for his hard work and for standing up for residents in Old Portsmouth.

Sharing his, and other local people’s concerns, I have now written to the city council’s director for transport instructing the local authority to undertake a road safety survey and feasibility study for a zebra crossing in the area.

I urge others to get involved with this campaign by signing Sumel’s petition to call on the council to listen to our demands and improve road safety in Old Portsmouth”.

You can sign the petition by clicking here you have until the 20th May to show your support.