MORE than 60 school and college staff and students say lives will be put at risk if a pedestrian crossing is scrapped.

The move by Essex County Council would see the popular Toucan crossing in Cymbeline Way, Colchester, moved 235 metres on to Colne Bank Avenue.

A total of 64 staff, students and pupils at the nearby Colchester Institute and St Helena School have raised objections to the plans.

Essex Police are also objecting to the move.

Adam Pipe, the force’s casualty reduction manager, said: “My colleague has raised concerns there will be the tendency for people to take a short-cut.

“Obviously, we will continue to monitor this location in relation to accident figures if they come in.”

“We will make further representations to Essex County Council if we need to after it gets moved.”

Justin Kellett, St Helena’s head of school, said: “A significant number of our students cycle to school.

“Our concern is theywill not be prepared to take a significant detour on the cyclepath touse the relocated crossing, and will, instead, choose to cycle across the busy roundabout on the road.

“We believe this poses a significant extra risk to our young people.

“We would therefore request the council leaves the crossing in its current location.”

Paul Avison, vice-chairman of Colchester Cycling Campaign, is also backing calls to keep the crossing where it is.

He said even in current location, the grass was worn at the end of the guardrails finish, indicating people trying to take short-cuts.

He added: “Even with the crossing where it is, pedestrians do the natural thing. They try to take a short-cut.

“Moving it along the road will onlymakemattersworse.

“I agree with the police.”

A report to county councillors, accepts pedestrians might ignore the new crossing and continue to cross the busy road where the existing one is, “in an uncontrolled manner” It suggests extending a safety rail further west, stopping people crossing where the existing crossingwould ease concerns.

Separate proposals would also see temporarilyreduced the speed limit from 60mph to 40mph in part of the Avenue of Remembrance, between Sheepen Road and the Westway roundabout.

The reduced speed limit would probably be made permanent in due course.

The crossing plans are part of a scheme to redesign the Colne Bank roundabout to ease the way for Colchester’s newparkand ride buses.

Roads will be widened, with slip lanes from Westway into the Avenue of Remembrance and fromtheAvenueof Remembrance into Station Approach.

The £280,000 proposals, will be monitored for six months to see what impact they have.