A BUSY Ringwood junction has been branded "an accident waiting to happen" due to dangerous parking and risky pedestrian crossing points.

Concerns were raised about Butlers Lane in Ringwood during a recent meeting of Ringwood Town Council.

Cllr Jacqui Terry told the planning, town and environment committee  she is 'extremely worried' about residents parking inappropriately and pedestrians crossing the road at dangerous points to access shops an the post office.

And parking by delivery vehicles at the junction often blocks the views of motorists travelling in and out of the well-used junction with Gorley Road.

"There are a lot of problems with traffic which has increased considerably over the last few months," the town councillor said. "It needs Hampshire's input.

"Cars are continually parking there, even lorries parking there. This needs major consideration. Residents want proper crossings for disabled people and wheelchair users."

She called it a 'nightmare'.

"It is an accident waiting to happen and a serious one."

She told the meeting she met a father whose wheelchair-bound daughter finds it almost impossible to navigate the pathway, such is the way in which cars park around the bend.

"They really are taking their lives into their hands," she said, speaking about the disabled and mobility scooter drivers.

Cllr Christine Ford said: "I have been on about that path since 1999. I'm getting so sick of it," adding that she injured her ankle trying to cross the road one winter.

"The mothers park their cars there and go and collect their children. It says it's for shoppers and I don't know how they get away with it."

Cllr Tim Ward, vice chairman, told the council it was a difficult issue to approach, made harder because of the ambiguity of the landowner and the responsibility of safety.

"We need to get the county council involved," he said.

Councillors resolved that the deputy clerk Jo Hurd should contact Hampshire County Council to review the safety of the street and the possibility of installing an official crossing at Gorley Road and to install a path across the green to allow residents to reach the post box without navigating around parked cars.