A “potentially lethal location” is set to become safer after councillors agreed to bid for funding for a zebra crossing.

Residents and councillors have battled for a pedestrian crossing in Kirkgate Street Walsoken gathering hundreds of signatures on a petition earlier this year in support of the scheme.

On Monday night Wisbech Town Council unanimously agreed to put the scheme forward for a Local Highways Improvements grant from Cambs County Council.

Council clerk Terry Jordan said there were three potential projects including; a scheme to reduce the speed limit to 20mph across the Waterlees area and a proposal to remove areas of the town’s Market Place as highway.

But it was the zebra crossing scheme, pushed by Councillors Paul Clapp and Robert MacLaren, which won the council’s backing.

The scheme is expected to cost around £10,000, with the town council paying £1,000 towards the project and the county council stumping up the rest.

Local Highways Improvements grants are for schemes up to a maximum of £10,000, but if the Walsoken project proves more expensive then the town council also agreed to pay the difference.

The grant application, which outlines the issue will now be submitted, for a zebra crossing close to the shops on Kirkgate Street near to Gagen’s Butcher’s and the Londis store.

The bid states: “There is no doubt this long-standing problem has been ongoing for many years, but as the area has grown so has the problem intensified. A combination of high pedestrian footfall, haphazard parking and lack of crossing facilities make this a potentially lethal location. This crossing with make it vastly safer, while balancing the needs of local shoppers, pedestrians and businesses. This area is perceived to be hazardous by local people as can be seen by the petition and coverage earlier in the year. Local councillors took this problem to the County Council Highways Committee, which also indicated their support. This proposal will mitigate some of those concerns.