THURROCK Council has responded to residents' concerns and plans to extend no parking signage around a busy pedestrian crossing in Stanford-le-Hope.

Residents petitioned the council with concerns about the Zebra crossing on Southend Road, close to the town centre, after the authority said it was not a safety risk.

Local independent ward councillor Neil Speight challenged the council to review its decision in October last year, saying: "I think there is a very real danger presented by the positioning of this crossing and the inadequate signing and zig zags either side of it, particularly in the light of increased usage by families and children who have move into the nearby new housing estate."

Now the council has agreed to make changes in the interests of safety, saying: "Following a petition submitted by members of the community raising concerns about road safety, the council has reviewed the matter and agreed to extend the zigzag lines on either side of the crossing.

"This decision has been made to improve visibility for both pedestrians and drivers, reducing the risk of accidents, and ensure that the crossing remains a safe and accessible point for all road users."

The council says: "The extension works are scheduled for later in the year and we kindly ask all residents and visitors to observe the new road markings once in place and to avoid parking within the extended zigzag zones."

Cllr Speight said: "I am grateful to officers for revisiting their original decision. Local knowledge and local experience should be paramount in council decision-0making. Thankfully, officers have recognised they got this one wrong and have acted in a positive fashion.

"It's an exemplar of how things should work and I see this as a really positive response by the council and thank those people who were not afraid to say they got things wrong the first time around. It's a bit of a win for the people."