University students launch Horsforth road safety petition amid fears lives are at risk

Leeds City Council is being urged to install a zebra crossing or introduce peak time crossing patrols on Brownberrie Lane outside the university, which caters for 3,400 students.

Students started a week-long campaign on Brownberrie Lane yesterday to highlight their concerns and gather signatures on a petition calling on Leeds City Council to take action.

They are wearing high visibility clothing and zebra fancy dress costumes while helping each other cross Brownberrie Lane at peak hours as students arrive and leave the university.

Leeds Trinity Students’ Union and Leeds Citizens – an alliance of faith, education and community organisations – have launched the campaign.

Steph Little, president of Leeds Trinity Students Union, said: “We have spoken to hundreds of students, university staff and local residents about road safety around the university.

“Hundreds of pedestrians cross Brownberrie Lane to enter the university every day but there is no safe crossing point nearby.

This is incredibly dangerous. There have been several near misses and it is only a matter of time before there is a serious accident.”

“So far Leeds City Council have failed to address the problem and seem to be waiting until someone is killed before taking action.

“We are calling on Coun Richard Lewis (executive member for regeneration, transport and planning) to meet with us so we can work together on a solution”

A spokesman for Leeds City Council said: “The council introduced a number of traffic safety measures on Brownberrie Lane approximately 12 months ago, including reducing the speed limit from 40mph to 30mph and installing traffic calming measures along the length of the road. We have not received any recent requests to introduce further measures, but we would invite any members of the public to contact us so we can work with them to address any concerns.”