Residents celebrate as A29 crossing point brings safety

A 12,000 scheme by West Sussex County Council has created a crossing point on the A29 Shripney Road north of Poplars Park.

The work removed the banking of the dual carriageway's central reservation and involved laying a short footway across it to create a refuge for pedestrians.

This will enable the park's 179 residents aged at least 50, and anyone else, to more easily get to the eastern side of the one of the main entrance routes to Bognor Regis.

The crossing point is close to the bus stop for the 66/66A services into the town centre.

Eileen Harvey (68), a Poplars Park resident for the past five years, said: "It was horrendous trying to cross this road before.

"You couldn't see very well and the traffic was going too fast. You had to cross over the banking, which was horrible when it was wet.

"This crossing is much nicer. I've never used the bus in the past because I hated crossing this road but I will now."

The county council installed the crossing thanks to the efforts of one of Bersted's district councillors.

Ann Smee took up the residents' concerns soon after her election last May.

They had oreviously submitted a 100-plus name petition for a crossing without any joy.

Mrs Smee said: "It's fantastic the crossing has been created. It is going to be of great benefit to people.

"You can see right the way up each side of the road now and the drivers can see you.

"It's also flat to enable everyone, including those in wheelchairs, to get over to the other side of the road and the bus stop."