Crossing update

Clearly I must be setting the news! What I blogged yesterday hits the Brentwood Weekly News today! The tale of the zebra crossing (below) is included in the front page headline story, Signs still waiting to be plugged in. It appears EDF Energy have a number of works to be completed around the Borough.

Unfortunately the Council spokeswoman fell into what I call "Reportspeak" where silly new words replace words we have used quite happily for many years. She said the zebra crossing and other works "are so near to being delivered". Wouldn't 'completed' have been better than 'delivered'? How do you 'deliver' a zebra crossing anyway? On the back of a lorry? Or even on the back of a zebra?

To cross or not

Here's an interesting thing - well I thought so anyway. As you can see from the picture, it's a pleasant view. There's are park on the right and some nice houses on the left. And to get from one to the other - a zebra crossing. EXCEPT, notice the signs! They read "Crossing not in use" (see picture below for a close-up).

You may be forgiven for wondering how a zebra crossing can't be in use. Well, I'll tell you. It's just been put there and the Belisha beacons aren't yet working. EDF Energy, bless them (well someone needs to!) say they have such a backlog of work, they haven't got round to it yet. It has to be said this must have been the case for at least three weeks.

But here's the problem. Does it mean you mustn't cross there? And if so, where DO you cross? A couple of metres up or down the road from it? Or do you throw caution to the wind and cross there anyway? Or do you just wait and only go to the park in a month or so's time, when the crossing is working?

These problems keep me awake at night, you know! Or maybe it's just too much coffee ...