A DISABLED Carlton man, who has been campaigning for a pedestrian crossing on Church Street, has been told by the council not to contact them until more people start crossing the road at that point.

Mark Ravenhill, 23, of Spring Grove, has cerebral palsy and has been fighting to get the crossing for over two years but has been told the street doesn't meet the criteria.

In a letter to Mark, the council says: “It is with regret that I can offer you no further assistance on this matter and with respect ask that you refrain from contacting the council again until such a time when pedestrian crossing movements significantly increase to such an extent that another survey would achieve positive results.”

Mark lives in a complex with other disabled people who also find it difficult to cross the busy road. He said although the council has lowered the pavements in certain areas, he has trouble turning his wheelchair because the pavement is so narrow and because of a wall running down the side of it. He has to come off the pavement on to the road to turn around but if there was a crossing there, it would be a lot safer.

Mark added: “I don't know how they can say it doesn't need a crossing because it does. I think the council ought to be ashamed of themselves.”

Cabinet spokesman for environmental services Coun Roy Miller said: “As cabinet spokesman I do not find it acceptable that a member of the public is told not to contact the council. If there are concerns, there are processes in place to look and evaluate them.

"I met with Mark at the site to look at it but it fell well short of the government's criteria to get the required funding for a crossing.

"There are some other measures but if Mark feels there has been a change in circumstances then he can contact me directly.”

Assistant director for highways, Alan Carnall, said other road measures had been put in place and more surveys may be done after about six months.