Highways chiefs facing calls to improve road safety near three Hampshire schools

They have spoken out after a spate of near-misses on a road used by hundreds of pupils to and from home.

Families want four yellow bollards at Challenger Way, Dibden Purlieu, replaced by a crossing that would force drivers to stop.

The current facility is only a few hundred yards from Orchard infant and junior schools and neighbouring Noadswood School.

Campaigner Darren Bowen said: “We’ve sent letters and petitions to Hampshire County Council but they are dragging their feet. Only the other day a boy from one of the Orchard schools was knocked down by a car and taken to hospital.”

Parent Katie Bezer added: “It’s terrifying watching children try to get across the road. I’ve got two kids myself and there’s no way I would let them cross on their own.”

Malcolm Wade, county councillor for Hythe and Dibden, said: “It’s only a matter of luck that we haven’t had a serious accident.”

He said he was arranging for council highways officer to visit Challenger Way and see for himself the volume of traffic and the potential for a serious collision.

A county council spokesman said: “We provide three school crossing patrol officers to help children cross the road at the beginning and end of the school day.”