FEARS for the safety of pedestrians trying to cross at a busy roundabout in Mill Hill have been voiced as traffic lights are set to be switched off.

Transport for London (TFL) is conducting a three-month trial in Stirling Corner, to see whether vehicles keep moving without part-time signals.

However, residents are concerned pedestrians will be in greater danger when trying to cross the A1, if the lights are removed.

Now Laura Hanna, 47, of Shetland Close, is calling on TFL to scrap the proposals.

The mother-of-three said: “The plans are dangerous, not thought-out and have no consideration for pedestrians.

“The roundabout is already dangerous for drivers and lethal for pedestrians who have no chance of getting across after 6.30am.”

Mrs Hanna, a nursery manager, believes the lights, which currently operate from 3.30pm to 6.30pm each night, need to be on 24 hours a day.

She added: “There should definitely be a purpose-built way for pedestrians to cross the A1, such as a footbridge or Pelican crossing system, in line with the traffic signals.”

Speaking to the Times Series neighbours in Shetland Close, agreed with her concerns.

Dorothy Geraghty, 61, described how a few years ago, her daughter was nearly hit by a car as she crossed at the roundabout.

Her husband, Trevor, 58, added: “It is a death trap for pedestrians. I can't understand why they have never built a walkway.”

Their neighbour, Kenneth Hack, 62, said: “It's always been a problem. You take your life in your hands if you try to cross there.”

All of the Shetland Close residents had hoped things would improve for pedestrians following the building of the new Morrisons supermarket, in Stirling Way.

However, Mrs Hanna feared elderly people living on the other side of the A1 would be risking their lives if they attempted to walk to the shop.

Gaye Hargrove, 78, of Arkley Park, called the Stirling Corner roundabout a “nightmare crossing” for residents of the retirement park in Barnet Road.

The pensioner said that when the part-time signals were on, it provided the only window of opportunity for many of her neighbours to get to the supermarket.

She said: “We have to get so much done in that time. It is the only chance you have.”

Ms Hargrove said she always chose to drive to Morrisons, but thought it was “ridiculous” she had to use her car to travel around 100 metres to safely pick up a pint of milk.

She said: “When it's your life at stake you're not going to be silly about it.”

Ms Hargrove said she felt the plan to turn off traffic lights in Sterling Corner could lead to a “dreadful accident”.

Thomas Canning, press officer for TFL, said there had been no incident involving a pedestrian in the past three years.

He added: "Analysis of this site shows removing these signals could benefit all road users, including pedestrians, by smoothing the flow of traffic through the area.

“Subject to the results of this trial, the site will be considered for removal during 2011.