A COUNCILLOR has promised to support a new petition being set up by residents.

Resident Jemma Hudson has decided to start a petition campaigning for a pedestrian crossing on a busy Oswaldtwistle road after a 16-year-old girl collided with a taxi on a zebra crossing next to Yummie’s Sandwich Shop on Blackburn Road on Wednesday.

Peter Britcliffe, Tory county councillor for Hyndburn, said sorting out the road was a matter of urgency as this isn’t the first time a tragic incident has happened.

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He said: “I have requested that Lancashire County Council look at this area on numerous occasions to get a pedestrian crossing there and possibly a speed camera because the speed the traffic is approaching the crossing is far too fast.

“There was a fatality a few years ago and it sounds like we have been lucky not to have another one this time. It’s an issue that desperately needs to be addressed. I’m looking forward to seeing what response I get from the LCC this time round. I often don’t get a reply when I tell them about these issues but this is a situation we cannot ignore any longer.”

The girl, 16, is recovering in hospital from head and hip injuries. Lee Carter, who lives in West End, has run Lee’s Barbers from premises in Blackburn Road for 18 years, and he said he would support the petition.

He said: “I’ve had petitions in the past rejected because the area wasn’t being classed as a black spot for accidents.

“It was disappointing as I put a lot of time into getting people to sign it and all we want is just somewhere children can cross as lots of kids come from the West End school to use the zebra crossing and people don’t respect the rules of the road.

“I would definitely support any effort to make this safer.”

A witness described that they had seen the girl flung into the air after the collision at 7.40am.

A Lancashire County Council spokesman said it would be discussing the circumstances of the incident with the police to consider whether action can be taken to prevent a similar accident in the future.