A COUNCILLOR is calling for pedestrian crossings to be installed along Southend’s Golden Mile instead of average speed cameras.

Peter Wexham wants two crossings at the new City Beach development which he believes will slow down cars more effectively than cameras and make the development safer for visitors and residents.

The average speed camera system, announced by Southend Council earlier this month, would be similar to the one along the A127 between Southend and Basildon, and would be paid for by Southend-based company Olympus KeyMed.

But Mr Wexham, Lib Dem councillor for Leigh, wants council bosses to work with the medical equipment manufacturer to devise a road safety scheme and find the correct place for crossings.

He said: “The shared space concept is not working down there. They need to think about road safety first instead of putting up speed cameras.

“It would certainly slow down the traffic and I think the money would be better spent if they funded two crossings instead.

“The cameras are not going to solve the safety problem. I think it is very dangerous for people crossing at the moment because no one has any idea about how the shared space system works.”

The camera system would be put in between the new Mariner’s Square, Marine Parade, and the Three Shells cafe, Western Esplanade.

Mr Wexham added: “This is one of the main roads in the town and there is nothing to tell drivers to give way to pedestrians or what walkers should do.

“We have people from across the country come to visit us, and something needs to be done about it.”

Simon Patterson, chairman of the Southend Seafront Traders’ Assoc-iation supports the proposal. He said: “It would be a better way to spend the money funding two crossings than on the cameras.

“There is a perception from visitors it is not safe, and I think having crossings down there would ease people’s fears.”

Tony Cox, councillor responsible for transport, said: “It is a new concept, and it will take some time to bed in.”