Traffic lights back in action - at last

Jan 15 2007 By Natasha Brown

TRAFFIC lights left dormant at a busy junction where hundreds of school children cross the road daily were finally given a green light.

The lights at the junction of Yeading Lane and Kingshill Avenue, Northolt, were left inactive for six months because of technical faults.

Transport for London (TfL), which operates the lights, finally fixed the fault on Wednesday, appeasing parents who feared for the safety of their children.

Grandmother-of-five Pam Marskell, of Down Close, Northolt, said: "I have a grandson who goes to Barnhill High and we have campaigned for ages to get the traffic lights switched on.

"I don't know how people haven't been killed at the junction because it's so busy and really dangerous for children to cross. We're glad the lights have been switched on but it's not before time."

Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, of Northolt West End Ward, said: "I have grown up walking past the traffic lights every day and it's a real accident hot spot.

"We have campaigned for years to get the lights in place and it was disheartening and hazardous that they weren't switched on immediately.

"It's really good to see the lights being switched on especially for the children who go to schools nearby."

TfL officials admits the lights were inactive longer than expected.

A spokeswoman said: "The unexpected difficulties were encountered due to the age of the existing traffic signals.

"The signals were modified rather than replaced, as we were aware that a modernisation of the junction is due in 2008/09."