Local Liberal Democrat councillors have welcomed the progress towards a safe crossing for pedestrians and cyclists at the BP roundabout at Ely. 

County councillors Piers Coutts (Ely South), Alison Whelan (Ely North), Lorna Dupré (Sutton) and district councillor Christine Whelan (Ely West) have been pressing for urgency in putting right the junction ever since the changes made by the previous mayor and county council administration made it more dangerous. 

Options for a safe crossing have now been shortlisted, and a single preferred option is due to be proposed by the end of this month. 

Cllr Lorna Dupré said: “The first question I asked the Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough at his first Combined Authority Board meeting over two years ago was what he was going to do to make this junction safe.  

“It’s frustrating that it has taken so long, but I’m relieved to see this scheme moving forward at last.” 

Back in July, a petition was set up by resident Sally Boor with the aim of helping residents to walk and cycle safely across the junction.   

The petition now has over 1,500 signatures. 

Sally said that the way cyclists and pedestrians must cross the A10 crossing at Ely is “completely unacceptable” and she called the junction a “death trap”.   

READ MORE: Ely A10/A142: Petition launched for safer crossing at junction 

Cllr Alison Whelan said: “This junction has presented a danger to pedestrians and cyclists ever since it was remodelled to accommodate more cars more quickly.  

“A safe crossing for everyone else cannot come soon enough. We need to encourage walking and cycling, not prevent it, and we need to make this area safer generally for local horse-riders. 

Cllr Piers Coutts said: “I’m pleased that we should soon hear what the preferred solution is for this dangerous junction.  

“The priority now is to secure funding to move to the next stage of feasibility study and consultation, and of course to find the resources to actually put a safe crossing in place as soon as possible.”