COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

It was paid for with taxpayers' money from central government



The new ‘flash crossing’ outside Coventry Railway Station cost a jaw-dropping £21,640.

Visitors to the area will have noticed the eye-catching blue zig-zag pattern which has been painted on the road separating the station from the new Friargate development.

Coventry City Council says the crossing has been painted in this way to “encourage drivers and pedestrians to be aware of each other”. It also says it wanted to use a design that would create a “memorable impression”.

But it has now emerged the crossing is also likely to have left an impression on the taxpayers’ wallet after the council said the crossing had cost £25 more per square metre than the traditional surface used on crossings.

The crossing has been paid for with cash from central government, rather than through money raised locally through council tax.

A spokesman for the council told the Telegraph: “The new flash crossing cost a total of £21,640 which was funded by grant money from the government’s Growth Deal.

“That cost is £25 more per metre squared than the normal anti-skid surfacing required at such a site and used at other locations around the city.

“But it has the advantage that it takes less time to install, costs less to maintain and can be removed more easily if needed in the future.”

Cllr Jayne Innes (pictured), cabinet member for city services, said yesterday that the crossing is intended to make a bold statement outside the station - the fastest growing station outside London.

She added, “I absolutely love this section of road. It’s fantastic. It’s our own bit of art on the road, welcoming visitors to the city and making a memorable impression.

“I hope we can look at more innovative and artistic solutions like this for other roads in the city.”

Coventry Railway Station £21,000 "temporary" flash crossing removed



The bright blue zigzagged crossing outside Coventry Railway Station has been removed permanently, it has been confirmed.

Coventry City Council unveiled the eye catching blue and black road markings in October 2017 on the section of Station Square which links Eaton Road with Park Road.

At the time, it was said that the 'flash crossing', which cost £25 more per square metre than the traditional surface used on crossings, had a life span of "about five years".

However, less than three years later, the crossing has been removed.

Today (August 17), a spokesperson for Coventry City Council said the crossing "was only ever intended to be a temporary measure".

They went on to say the removal comes as a result of the ongoing Station Masterplan project, making way for temporary pick up and drop off parking for the station.

A spokesperson for Coventry City Council said: "The flash crossing was removed a few weeks ago to make way for temporary pick up and drop off parking for the railway station, which has been relocated as a result of the station masterplan works.

"The crossing was only ever intended to be a temporary measure.

"The permanent arrangement for this area to be delivered as part of the station masterplan will see the pedestrian boulevard extended all the way to the front of the station, creating a high quality traffic free route from the station towards Greyfriars Green.

"The wider station masterplan will deliver a new car park, station building, footbridge and transport interchange funded predominantly by cash from WMCA and CWLEP."