ANXIOUS parents in Chineham have vowed to continue their push for a school crossing next to two Basingstoke schools.

Borough councillor Ron Hussey heard pleas from a group of mothers with pupils at Four Lanes Infant and Junior schools to make children's routes safer.

He told Chineham Parish Council's latest meeting: "We have got a £1.3 million budget over the next three years which is not all spoken for. There is a priority list but that can change."

However, he conceded that tests have not proved that Bowman Road is sufficiently dangerous to warrant a crossing.

Cllr Hussey argued that traffic lights were not an attractive idea.

"Motorists travel in auto mode and they stop seeing the lights after a while. There is also a blind spot on the corner of Bowman Road."

For the same reason, parish councillors agreed that a lollipop lady may not be appropriate.

Parents want their children to be able to enjoy walking to school in line with the Government's "Safer Journeys to School" campaign.

Parish councillor John Long said he has his heart in his mouth every time his children go to school even though they don't have far to walk.

Nine-year-old Laura Hughes gave her views on the matter in a letter. This was read out to councillors and asked that children be protected from cars zooming around the corner.

One mother, Julia Webb, handed in a petition asking for parents views to be considered.

The mothers agreed to speak to the heads of Four Lanes Junior and Infant schools - Martyn Gamble and Sue Byrde - to see if they would distribute a questionnaire.

Mrs Webb said after the meeting: "The questionnaire would aim to find out how many kids would walk to school if their journey was made safer."

She hopes that this will increase their chances of a sympathetic hearing about a possible crossing from the county council's highways authority.