TRAFFIC lights at a pedestrian crossing on a busy Christchurch road are still not working - three months after they were installed.

The puffin crossing opposite Meteor Retail Park in Somerford Road was branded ‘dangerous’ and in breach of regulations when it was constructed.

Resident Nigel Brooks wrote to Dorset County Council claiming the location of the crossing went against guidelines from the Department of Transport.

The government body recommends that signal-controlled installations should be sited a minimum of 20 metres from a side road. However, Mr Brooks maintained the puffin crossing is just 12 metres from the retail park entrance, 12 metres from the junction with Wilverley Road and four metres from the junction with Edward Road.

Although the county council insists the crossing “fully complies with current standards and legislation”, a spokesperson could not confirm when it would be in use.

“Unfortunately, there is a delay on the crossing going ‘live’ as there is a technical issue with the detection system which we are currently working to resolve.

“We don’t have a date for the lights going on at the moment, it depends on what needs to be done to get the detectors working.”

The crossing was installed as part of the planning requirement for the Meteor Retail Park development.

Lesley Dedman, county councillor for Mudeford and Highcliffe, has already raised her concerns about the pedestrian crossing with Daryl Turner, cabinet member for the natural and built environment.

She said its location close to other junctions and a bus stop was “chaos waiting to happen”.

“I have been arguing as a county councillor to our highways department that the road layout since the shops were opened is ridiculous.

“Many residents have contacted me about the traffic problems and the worries of pedestrians as the area is on the other side of the road to a large housing estate with young families and children crossing.”

“The original plan was for one-way traffic through the retail car park, exiting Wilverley Road with three-way lights there. That might have worked.

“It seems these numerous road access points are a recipe for disaster,” she added.