COUNCIL chiefs have unveiled plans to make a dangerous town centre junction safer for pedestrians.

The announcement comes just weeks after a coroner urged Bolton Council’s highways department to act on the crossings at the junction of Knowsley Street and Deansgate.

Under the new plans, the signals will be altered so that the green man will stay on green and will only turn red when a vehicle approaches — giving pedestrians priority.

In January, deputy Bolton coroner Alan Walsh called for action following a hearing into the death of Anne Knowles, aged 78, who was struck by a bus on the crossing last year.

Mrs Knowles, of The Fairways, Egerton, was shopping in the town centre when the accident happened. She was hit by a Rossendale Transport bus as she crossed between McDonald’s and what is now Nationwide, in Deansgate.

The driver, Simon Watson, did not see the pensioner until she was immediately in front of the windscreen because of a blind spot, the inquest heard.

She suffered serious head injuries when she fell to the ground and later died at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Speaking after the inquest, Mrs Knowles’ daughter, Susan Wrangham, said: “The family would echo the coroner’s views that the problems at this junction be addressed as quickly as possible so nobody else has to suffer.”

Now the council has revealed how it hopes to resolve the danger problem.

Last night Cllr Nick Peel, Bolton Council’s Executive Member for Environmental Services, said: “We are looking to make these improvements as part of our town centre transport strategy.

“This junction is really heavily used, so it’s an option we’re looking into closely. If the changes go ahead, it should reduce the risk of casualties.

“It will improve safety for people crossing the road there and help control the flow of vehicles through the junction.”