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A pedestrian struck by a bus in the centre of Bristol was attempting to cross the road at a point where council chiefs had removed the green man crossing lights – and had delayed reinstating them – it has been claimed.

The crash has left Baldwin Street closed as police collision investigators scour the scene. It is believed to have happened at a long-standing crossing point of the busy main road through the city centre.

A Long Ashton Park and Ride service bus was involved in a collision with a man on Friday morning (February 23) at the crossing point close to the western end of Baldwin Street, between Café Gusto and the Santander Bank at the junction of Clare Street and Broadweir.

The traffic light pedestrian crossing there was taken away to make room for an extension to the cycle path road which runs along Baldwin Street, to complete the missing link between the Marsh Street junction and The Centre.

That changes are largely complete but the last remaining work to do was to reinstate the traffic lights crossing points for pedestrians, who now have to cross both the road and the cycleway.

Concerns have been raised about how safe the new layout of the road network around The Centre and Baldwin Street is for pedestrians.

Back in April last year, when the new Baldwin Street link crossing The Centre to the Hippodrome was opened, Bristol Post readers expressed fears the layout was confusing for both drivers and pedestrians.

One concerned pedestrian asked Bristol City Council why the pedestrian crossing lights had not been reinstated when the cycleway was completed.

And in a reply Samuel Smith from the traffic signals department appeared to admit the lights at the west end of Baldwin Street could be installed, but a decision had been taken to wait until the crossing lights 100 yards further east were also ready to be installed.

“The reinstallation of the pedestrian crossing across Baldwin Street at the location you describe was put on hold until after the construction of the cycle lane on Baldwin Street had been completed,” Mr Smith said.

“The construction of the cycle lane has been completed and the crossing’s signal equipment will be installed at the same time as the new signals equipment for the Baldwin Street/Marsh Street junction.

“We are simply waiting for our traffic signals contractor to get on site and do the work,” he added.

A council spokesperson said: "We are sorry to hear of the accident this morning and await the results of the police investigation.”