Residents are calling for urgent safety improvements at the Eastergate War Memorial roundabout amid what campaigners describe as ‘a wave of alarming reports’ of collisions and near-misses.

A petition, launched by local dad David Claydon, has attracted more than 400 signatures, with campaigners calling for a designated zebra crossing and wider pedestrian improvements at the busy village junction.

The petition states: “We are calling for the immediate prioritisation and installation of zebra crossings as the primary safety feature of the promised improvements at this junction.

“This roundabout is a critical crossing point not only for students but for dog walkers, the elderly, the disabled, and families with buggies and prams.

Residents are calling for urgent safety improvements at the Eastergate War Memorial roundabout amid what campaigners describe as ‘a wave of alarming reports’ of collisions and near-misses. Picture: Google Maps

placeholder image — Residents are calling for urgent safety improvements at the Eastergate War Memorial roundabout amid what campaigners describe as ‘a wave of alarming reports’ of collisions and near-misses. Picture: Google Maps

“A safe crossing is a simple, vital measure to slow traffic and provide the protection we desperately need. By installing zebra crossings, the authorities can remove the strong disincentive to walking and finally support the Council’s own vision for sustainable transport and community wellbeing.”

Concerns have also been raised about damage to Eastergate’s historic war memorial, which stands at the centre of the roundabout.

The memorial commemorates local soldiers who died in the First and Second World Wars and was built in 1920. It originally stood on a village green, which has since become the roundabout at the junction of the A29 and B2233.

A resident who contacted the Chichester Observer said they believed damage to the memorial had been caused by vehicles, while also expressing concerns about anti-social behaviour in the area.

Campaign organiser David Claydon said the community refuses to wait for a fatality before action is taken.

“When parents are reporting their children being hit, residents are being clipped by cars, and residents are having to drag people out of the road while holding a baby, the situation is beyond an emergency,” he said.

“When you add the fact that local residents are literally buying cement at B&Q to rebuild our War Memorial because lorries keep ploughing into it, it’s clear this junction is a disaster waiting to happen.

“The Council cannot wait for a fatal accident to take place. We need formal safety controls, clear sightlines, and a designated zebra crossing now.”

In response, a spokesperson for West Sussex County Council said a Community Highway Scheme application for a crossing point on Barnham Road was currently under review’.

The spokesperson added: “In light of the petition, officers will consider the wider requests for pedestrian improvements at the roundabout before determining the application, to ensure any proposals are assessed as part of a comprehensive approach to the junction.”