A ZEBRA CROSSING in Malmesbury has been repainted after safety concerns meant it could have caused 'serious danger' to pedestrians – a few near misses were witnessed.

This comes after over a hundred comments were posted on a private Malmesbury Facebook page about the zebra crossing at Market Cross last week. 

In particular, concern was directed towards drivers who are not habitual users of this road who may not realise that there is a zebra crossing at all.

Keith Freegard, who posted the accompanying picture, said: “I have just witnessed a near-hit accident on the much-used zebra crossing at Market Cross.

“An elderly person was crossing and a blue transit van did not stop until it was over the 'zebra stripes', the shocked pedestrian had to push on the bonnet of the van to avoid falling over.

“The driver of the van then gesticulated that he could not see the poorly marked crossing there.

Karen Rowles corroborated the story, saying: “I witnessed the same thing on a Tuesday afternoon as a car nearly hit a family.

“A guy did shout to the driver that there was a crossing, but the driver also said he didn’t know this.”

Another person on Facebook commented: “It needs repainting. Be careful what you wish for. It’s positioned there because people want to cross there."

Another comment read: “I've almost become a victim crossing here many times.

"Once, I was half way crossing and a car locked up their brakes like I was the one that shouldn't be there and shouted abuse.

"Hopefully something is being done before someone does get seriously hurt.”

Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Transport and Street Scene told the Wilts & Glos: “We are aware of this zebra crossing and have instructed our highways term maintenance contractor to refurbish the lines.

“Due to the weather conditions in the winter months we do not normally undertake lining works at this time of year.

“Increased gritting of road surfaces can cause fresh lining to erode rapidly, however if the ground conditions permit we will attempt to paint the zebra crossing sooner.