Sherborne Road: Puffin crossing to replace lollipop patrols

Hampshire County Council (HCC) has given the green light for the installation of a puffin crossing in Sherborne Road, outside Oakridge Infants and Juniors schools.

The £488,000 scheme was approved on January 22 and will be funded from Section 106 Developer Contributions.

It means that the current lollipop patrols will be withdrawn, but HCC said a puffin crossing will provide a daily 24/7 crossing facility and accessibility for pedestrians, "which the School Crossing Patrol is only able to provide during school opening and closing times."

The location of the proposed puffin crossing (Image: Google Street View)

A report published by HCC explains the aim of the scheme is to create an "improved pedestrian link across Sherborne Road to Oakridge School.

"This will be achieved by constructing a new traffic light-controlled crossing point to allow pedestrians to cross (a puffin crossing), with associated footway widening.

"This will provide a controlled crossing facility for pedestrians on a well-used route, whilst also managing traffic flows to minimise congestion."

HCC believes that the use of a signal-controlled crossing at this location will provide "the best balance" between high-levels of peak-time pedestrian crossing demand and traffic flows, "thereby improving the local active travel network and encouraging increased walking and cycling locally. "

A zebra crossing was initially considered for the area; however, HCC believes "the advantage of a puffin crossing over a zebra is that the passage of pedestrians is controlled, thereby allowing effective management of vehicle delay and congestion."