11 June 2012 Last updated at 10:06 ET

Leek roundabout changes: Protesters set up camp

One protester, Sarah Gayton, said they wanted assurances the new road system would be safe

Protesters trying to stop changes to a Staffordshire town's road system set up a camp on a roundabout.

Work has started on the scheme to remove the roundabout in Leek, while the overall £5m plans also include the removal of two zebra crossings.

Protesters disrupted work at the roundabout in May, claiming its removal would make the roads more dangerous.

The council has said pedestrian safety was "paramount" and it had listened to people's concerns.

It said on Monday that the protest was a matter for the police, but that the public had a right to protest and the county council was supportive of that.

Staffordshire Police said it was "talking to the protesters to find out what their aims are".

'Listen to the people'

Planned changes would speed up the flow of traffic through Leek, the authority has said.

It has said the road system must change to cope with extra traffic created by a Sainsbury's supermarket being built on the edge of town.

A total of 11,000 residents have signed a petition opposing the plans.

One of about 60 protesters at the site on Monday, Alex Povey, said: "I hope that the people listen to the people and just don't walk all over us.

"At the end of the day we are a community. We love the town we live in."

The initiative includes removing the pedestrian crossing at Ashbourne Road and changing the one on Haywood Street into a staggered pelican crossing.