Beatles’ Abbey Road crossing could get traffic warden

LONDON - Agence France-Presse

The cast of the West End Beatles musical show "Let it Be" pose for photographers by attempting to recreate the cover photograph of the Beatles album "Abbey Road" on the zebra crossing on Abbey Road in London it was originally taken on, Friday, Aug. 8, 2014. Friday marks the 45th anniversary of when the album cover photograph was taken showing the four members of the Beatles crossing the zebra crossing which has since gone on to become a popular tourist attraction. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

The pedestrian crossing on London’s Abbey Road immortalised by The Beatles could soon have its own dedicated traffic warden to ensure the safety of the fans who flock there, media reported on August 9.

The local authority is considering employing a "lollipop lady" -- a warden holding a "Stop" sign that resembles a sweet on the end of a stick -- to help regulate the flow of cars past the landmark.

Fans often block traffic as they stand on the black and white zebra crossing outside Abbey Road Studios to recreate the Fab Four’s famous pose on the cover of the 1969 album "Abbey Road".

"It’s a residential area and it’s not geared to receiving thousands and thousands of people," Lindsey Hall, an elected member of Westminster Council, told The Daily Mirror newspaper.

She said large buses often parked near the crossing in defiance of parking regulations, "causing total chaos to traffic and causing danger to people trying to get their photograph".

"Obviously we don’t want to be spoilsports, we are really proud of our musical heritage," Hall said.

"I’ve set things in motion to have a lollipop lady or man there.... It would be good to have somebody there permanently."

A spokesman for the council confirmed that a discussion was underway about safety at the crossing, but stressed that no decisions had yet been taken.

Stars of the Beatles musical "Let It Be" posed on the crossing on Friday to mark 45 years since the iconic album cover was shot.