LOCKWOOD residents are appealing for pedestrian crossings - despite Kirklees Council claims they are not needed.

Residents say more crossings are needed at Lockwood Bar crossroads, outside the Red Lion pub.

Two sides of the crossroads have pedestrian crossings, but the other two - at Swan Lane and Lockwood Road - do not.

Philip Nicholas, of Back Stanley Street, said this made it difficult for people to get across the busy road.

He is leading the campaign for a crossing and is launching a petition.

Mr Nicholas said he also had concerns about the lack of pedestrian crossings at a major junction before Lockwood Bar, where Chapel Hill meets St Thomas's Road, near Mecca Bingo.

Mr Nicholas said filter lanes at the traffic lights made it confusing for pedestrians to know when to cross.

He added that the road was busy and without a pedestrian crossing, elderly and young people could be in danger.

Mr Nicholas said: "People are very confused. It is only a matter of time before there a nasty accident there and it will probably be a kiddie or an old age pensioner.

"I am not the only person wondering why is there not a crossing. It is a death trap at these two places," added Mr Nicholas

A Kirklees spokeswoman said the highways department looked at pedestrians' needs in all traffic signal projects and aimed to incorporate crossing facilities, wherever possible.

She said the St Thomas's Road crossroads had been examined and it was found that very few people crossed there.

No-one had problems crossing, including wheelchair users, she said.

She added: "On the basis of this, we could not justify prioritising work at this location over other schemes.

"Our records indicate that three pedestrian personal injury accidents have occurred at this junction in the past three years.

"The nature of these accidents suggests they would not have been avoided had signal crossing facilities been present."

Speaking about Lockwood Bar, the spokeswoman said previous studies proved inconclusive in establishing a good crossing point for pedestrians, so no signal crossings had been installed.

However, there were pedestrian refuges to help people cross.

She said no additional crossings could be put in at the Lockwood Bar crossroads because it would affect the operation of the junction and seriously hit its efficiency, thereby increasing congestion.