CALLS for safety improvements on a Hampshire road used by schoolchildren look set to be answered.

Mother-of-two Maria Hutchinson collected a 941-signature petition calling for a pelican crossing on a Netley road close to Hamble Community Sports College.

Now a new assessment of the road prompted by her petition has found the road does meet the needs for a crossing.

The 46-year-old Netley resident, whose campaign inspired schoolchildren to write personal letters to Hampshire County Council transport bosses, wanted action after her daughter’s 12-year-old friend was hit by a car on the road in October.

She said there had been numerous other accidents and near misses on the 40mph Hound Way, which is used by many pupils to get to school.

Although there is a courtesy crossing with a dropped kerb and bollards, Maria – whose children Emma, 11, and James, 14, attend the school – has said that this is ineffective as some students try to cross the road elsewhere.

County council transport boss Cllr Sean Woodward promised a review of the road which he said in the past had not met the criteria for a crossing as there were not enough pedestrians.

Now a new assessment of traffic and pedestrians earlier this month found that the road does now justify a controlled crossing.

Cllr Woodward said if an assessment next month to find a suitable crossing point proved successful, the scheme would go ahead.

Daily Echo: Sean Woodward.

Cllr Sean Woodward

He said he hoped to have a puffin crossing – the most advanced light operated crossing which assesses how quickly people are moving across the road – in place by the start of the new school year in September.

Though funding for the £80,000 crossing still needs to be found by the county council, Cllr Woodward said he was committed to making it happen.

“The money will be found,” he said. “We have lost half of our highways budget from Government so it’s very, very difficult to find the money to do this but as I said I made the commitment that if it passed the test and if there’s a satisfactory position for it, if it passes the technical assessment, I want to see it provided.”

Maria, of Abbeyfields Close, said it was “brilliant news”.

“It’s too early to jump up and down yet, but I’m cautiously optimistic that this will happen,” she added.

“People are so passionate about this community. I think people can make a difference when they’re prepared to stand up and be counted.”

Liberal Democrat county council opposition leader and leader of Eastleigh Borough Council Keith House also welcomed the move and said he would work with the county council to make sure funding was found.