Hundreds of people have signed a petition calling for a new crossing to be installed on a busy Romsey road.

Lynda Emery, of North Close, decided to campaign for the crossing when she was taking her grandchildren to school and saw how difficult it was for pupils from Cupernham Infant School and Primary School, Romsey Primary School and Romsey Secondary School to cross the road safely.

The 72-year-old said that her petition has now been signed around 250 times by residents.

She said: “It’s now been in Romsey Primary School on Mercer Way and it’s in four shops across the town. I’m also still doing the rounds at school.

Daily Echo: Cupernham LaneCupernham Lane (Image: Chris Atkinson)

“I’m planning on winding up the petitions after Easter, and then Cllr Janet Burnage will pass them on to the Hampshire County Council representative and he will present them at a meeting.

“Another thing Cllr Burnage is trying to organise, which will also be after Easter, is for more of the local councillors, so the different wards from Romsey, to meet with me possibly at the Cupernham Crossing area to see if we can do anything else to push the petition forward.

“I would like more signatures, but I still have these other petitions to collect – hopefully it will push us to 300.”

The other petitions are in the Viney Avenue Shop and Post Office, the Londis on Mercer Way, the Co-op on Woodley Avenue and at Nightingale Pharmacy on Great Well Drive."

Mrs Emery said when starting the petition: "Children are finding it very difficult to get across that road.

“At certain times of the day, the traffic is heavier, because parents are bringing their children to school, and children who walk to school are just unable to get across.

“I’ve never done anything like this before, I don’t even know who my local councillor is, but I thought that I should.”

The petition has already seen support from Cupernham Junior School. Headteacher Simon Frost said: “The children’s safety is of paramount importance.

“If there is something that can be done to improve that and make it safer for the children to walk into school then it is a moral imperative it is done.

"The footfall at that point has caused a lot of concern and it means it is a perfect place for something to be put in.”