Campaigners win battle for new pedestrian crossing near Blackburn school

Campaigners have won their battle for a new pedestrian crossing near St Francis CE Primary School in Cherry Tree Lane in Blackburn.

It has been spearheaded by Livesey Parish Council.

Now Blackburn with Darwen Council has agreed to locate a new pedestrian crossing in Preston Old Road, near Cherry Tree Lane, during the coming summer holidays.

The parish council, parents and local residents have been campaigning for a new crossing outside St Francis School for several years, and gathered more than 900 signatures on a petition after a child was knocked down by a vehicle on the road in January 2025.

The issue was raised with Blackburn with Darwen Council leader Cllr Phil Riley at the borough’s full Council Forum meeting in April last year by Livesey Parish Council chairman Les Cade.

And in January former parish councillor Helen Voegt from Reform UK tackled the authority’s growth boss Cllr Quesir Mahmood on the crossing at another Council Forum meeting.

He told her: “St Francis School joined our WOW (walk to school) programme in October 2025 and has recently had a School Route Audit carried out by Living Streets.

“Once we have received the findings  we will look to implement any necessary actions.”

Now the results of that audit have been examined and identified that the pupils of St Francis Primary School would benefit from the crossing.

Cllr Mahmood said: “In January, I noted that work was underway to identify potential issues around St Francis Primary School, which may have been preventing families from travelling actively to school, involving input from the school, pupils, and parents.

“This was carried out by charity Living Streets, conducting school route audits to identify barriers which are preventing more children walking, wheeling, or scooting to school.

“As a result of this piece of work, I’m really pleased to confirm that we will be implementing a new crossing near the school in the summer holidays.”

Borough education boss Cllr Julie Gunn said: “With St Francis Primary School recently joining the WOW project, this crossing will benefit them hugely in reaching their targets whilst also being able to cross the road safely.”

Rick Moore, deputy chairman of Livesey Parish Council said: “This is a great result for local residents and a real step forward for safety. But there is still more to do.

“I’ve secured funding for a new speed indicator in Cherry Tree and Feniscowles, and I’m now working with the borough council to agree its location.”