A LEADING Southend company is paying for a new zebra crossing in Thorpe Bay.

Olympus KeyMed is funding the proposed new crossing in Thorpe Hall Avenue north of its junction with Eastern Esplanade and Thorpe Esplanade.

The investment is the latest in a long list of projects funded by the specialist medical instruments company based in Stock Road, Southend.

The crossing will have a central pedestrian refuge and is designed to take into account future alterations which will soon be carried out in Thorpe Hall Avenue to accommodate new cycle paths. Southend Council’s traffic and parking committee approved the scheme on Monday subject to a period of public consultation.

Tory councillor Ian Robertson, a member of the committee, said: “It’s something KeyMed came up with.

“I think its a very sensible idea. I made the suggestion to move it north because there are so many cars coming off the roundabout and this gives them more time to slow down for people crossing.”