New zebra crossing finally installed in Shropshire village after two year battle

The crossing in Gobowen has been busy this week with children returning to school after the Easter holidays.

And the battling grandmother who spearheaded the fight to get the crossing says it has been welcomed by everyone in the community.

Gobowen grandmother Dot Basham said it had been a long time coming, but the new crossing was wonderful.

"People of all ages are using it to get from one side of the village to the other," she said.

Mrs Basham, 65, from Perry Road, began a petition two years ago after seeing near misses on the St Martins Road as she walked her grandchild Caitlin, now nine, to Gobowen Primary School.

At the time statistics from West Mercia's Safer Roads Partnership, revealed that 1,300 motorists a day were breaking the 30mph speed limit on the road.

"We collected 762 signatures calling for a petition in just two weeks," she said.

"When I moved to Gobowen and my own children walked to school there was not one but two lollipop ladies. When they went it was just not safe to cross the road."

She thanked Gobowen Parish Council for backing the call for a zebra crossing and the two local councillors.

"Caitlin has two more years at Gobowen school and I have two younger grandchildren who will go there so I will be using that crossing thousands of times over the coming years," she said.

At the moment Mrs Basham is even more grateful for the zebra crossing as she injured her leg in a fall.

"It's taking me longer than usual to walk across the road," she added.