Plea for extra care at new crossing

Mr Salt and his guide dog Ossie

The new puffin crossing on Silk Street became a blessing in disguise on Wednesday, 30 July, for Mr Salt and his guide dog Ossie. Shortly after this photograph was taken a careless driver ignored the red lights. Mr Salt pressed the button on the Rochdale side of the crossing and heard the nearside traffic stop. A few seconds later the audible warning sounded and Ossie, as he is trained to do waited a few seconds and began to cross. As he came level with the second car on the near side a car driven by a lady 'sailed' past a halted car on the far side (heading towards Manchester Road). Drivers waiting at the crossing remonstrated with the errant driver who had stopped in the queue waiting at the junction lights to turn right to Rochdale.

Mr Salt said: "The woman never even acknowledged my existence. New lights or not if a driver cannot see 2 adults and a guide dog the size of a small donkey in the middle of the carriageway then I fear for all road users."

"I have crossed this road for the past 12 years safely with the help of a guide dog and now when a safe crossing has been installed this happens. The irony of this is that I have badgered council officials for years to provide a controlled crossing for all pedestrians at this point. I will be writing to Mr Forester to thank him and his staff for all their efforts on behalf of pedestrians during the alterations."

Mr Salt's daughter took the registration of the car but he will not take the matter further hoping that the lady's embarrassment gave her an uncomfortable evening. He asks all drivers to take extra care at the new junction and pointed out that if a child was crossing in the opposite direction the stationary car would have hidden the red light jumper from their view with awful consequences. He would also like to take this opportunity to thank the vast majority of motorists for their consideration of Ossie and him as he goes around Castleton.