Campaigners fighting for a pedestrian crossing on a busy road in Birstall where a girl was knocked down by a car could be defeated at a crucial meeting today.

A petition signed by more than 2,000 residents calling for a crossing at the junction of Bradford Road and Kirkgate was being presented to Kirklees Council's transportation and highways committee.

The campaign for the crossing was launched by the Reverend Paul Knight, Vicar of St Peter's Church, after 11-year-old Nardeanne Barnett, of Monk Ings, Birstall, was seriously injured in March.

But traffic engineer Mike Stringer says in a report to the committee the junction does not meet the criteria for a crossing, despite a traffic count carried out in May. Instead, he says highways officers are looking in detail at the possibility of installing a refuge in Bradford Road at the Birkenshaw side of the junction with Kirkgate.

Mr Stringer says there have been four accidents involving injuries during the last five years at the Bradford Road/Kirkgate junction.

Of these, two involved cyclists in collision with cars turning at the junction and one involved Nardeanne, who was crossing the road on her way home from school.

Mr Stringer says: "It is possible the existence of a crossing at this location will reduce the likelihood of a similar pedestrian accident occurring, but a crossing will not have any influence on reducing the likelihood of the other types of accidents which have occurred here. In fact, statistics regarding pedestrian crossings indicate one injury accident per year can be can be expected at each crossing site. There is no case therefore, on the grounds of accident savings, for installing a crossing at this location."

But Mr Knight said: "It is vital to have a crossing because Bradford Road is very busy, particularly when children are going to and from schools."

Nardeanne, who suffered serious head and leg injuries, a broken pelvis and crushed arm, spent ten weeks in hospital, including a week in intensive care. Although now back at home, doctors have told her parents Brian and Jacqueline, it could take two years for her to make a full recovery.

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