A PETITION calling for railings to be reinstated near to a busy Leominster junction following safety concerns has been signed by more than 400 people.

Town councillor, John Rumsey, launched the campaign after the railings on Bargates were taken away during improvement works to the traffic lights at the junction of the busy road.

Herefordshire Council say the rail was removed as it impacted the width of the footpath and, as a result, did not meet current highway standards required by the Disability Discrimination Act.

However, Cllr Rumsey, and others who have signed the petition, believe the railing acted as a deterrent to vehicles from driving over the curb, with many parents now concerned that they be at risk when walking with children.

The route is part of the A44 and is frequently used by HGVs travelling to Wales.

Cllr Rumsey said: "We have had accidents in that location which could have been life-threatening. They [the council] have assessed it and apparently it is not a safety issue.

"To me and a lot of the public who walk up that road with children, it has got to be. People are worried about walking along there now."

In November 2014, a tractor and trailer shed a load of hay bales outside Dimarcos fish and chip shop on Bargates and rescue teams were scrambled to the scene.

Fortunately no one was injured but Cllr Rumsey fears people could now be more vulnerable.

One Leominster resident, Bethany Nash, added: "I was walking there the other day with my son in a pushchair by the petrol station when a great big lorry came around the corner, up over the path.

"Luckily nothing happened but if the railings were back it may not have happened at all."

In a statement, Herefordshire Council said Balfour Beatty Living Places had recently carried out works at Bargates junction to replace the traffic signals and resurface the carriageway and footway.

"As part of those works, it was discovered that the pedestrian guardrail impacted the width of the pedestrian footway and therefore did not meet current highway standards required by the Disability Discrimination Act," it said.

"Concerns relating to the pedestrian handrails will be considered as part of the planned works audit, scheduled for December 2016.”