PARENTS campaigning for a pelican crossing outside their New Forest primary school have been told by Hampshire's top politician that they will have to pay for it themselves.

County council leader Ken Thornber has admitted defeat after nearly five years of trying to create a crossing to please everybody at Brockenhurst Primary School in Sway Road.

As reported in the Daily Echo just over a year ago, £50,000 has already been spent by the county on providing a road safety zone outside the 206-pupil school.

Local parents speedily condemned the zone - marked out by flashing beacons, bollards and special kerbing - as not being up to the job. Their arguments were fuelled by two minor accidents within months near the new zone.

Village lobbyists increased pressure on Cllr Thornber to upgrade the crossing and this summer Ofsted inspectors expressed "safety concerns" about the road.

A survey by highways officers found Sway Road was not busy enough to qualify for the extra cost of a pelican crossing.

Cllr Thornber, who represents Brockenhurst, told parish councillors that he had tried every way to get funding for the light-controlled crossing demanded by parents - short of pulling rank and ordering his officers to agree to the scheme.

"I did consider the idea of overruling my officers, but it would be an abuse of power and it would open the floodgates to every school in the rest of Hampshire which would like a pelican crossing outside," said Cllr Thornber.

"I don't make this suggestion easily, but the only way to get a signalled crossing here is for you to fundraise. You would need about £50,000."

Cllr Thornber said he regretted making the pay-your-own-way suggestion, but added that Brockenhurst Primary had established a good reputation for fundraising, and there were many other pockets to explore.

"I will see around the county if there are individuals who could be benefactors to this village, and we can look into the possibility of funding from Europe," he said.

He added that a scheme called "parish partnership" - where the county would design and build the crossing and then bill the parish - might be the quickest way forward.

Parish councillor and school parent-governor Nick Munnik said: "The school hasn't got the money. We were looking at fundraising for a community swimming pool, not for a safety measure like a crossing."

Parish chairman John Korbey said: "We could look at putting the cost on to the annual precept, but £50,000 would more than double what we get now, and we don't know if we can legally do it."

Cllr Thornber added: "We would need to remove the existing crossing point - which is what consultation showed people wanted - because it is too close to parking areas for a pelican."

Parish councillors plan to meet on the school crossing issue and will bring their findings to the next council meeting in the village hall on November 18, when residents will be welcome.