PARENTS, teachers and community leaders have united to petition for a crossing in Alresford, claiming it is “an accident waiting to happen”.

Pupils at Perins secondary school are putting their “lives at risk”, say parents, when they cross The Avenue every day because of speeding drivers and the volume of traffic.

Locals are now petitioning Hampshire County Council to install a pelican crossing.

Currently, more than 500 people have signed the call, which has also received the backing of Itchen Valley ward councillor Jackie Porter.

One person who signed it said: “We should not need to wait for an accident to happen before this much needed crossing is put in place.”

Another added: “I feel my daughter takes her life in her hands every day.”

Joanne Parish, a parent, lobbied councillors to take action. Speaking at the authority’s annual meeting in Winchester, she said: “I live near both the school and the crossing point. As a parent of a year 7 student, it is terrifying for me to let her cross this extremely busy and dangerous road.”

“My son will be starting at Perins in a few years time and he is as daft as a brush,” she joked. “I cannot imagine him crossing the road without the assistance (of the Pelican Crossing).”

“Many cars do not adhere to the change from 40mph to 30mph on the road. It is a very straight and long road.

“The crossing would also slow the speed of drivers who are both driving out of the town and also towards its centre.”

Steve Jones, headteacher at Perins added: “The concern I have is the safety of the pedestrians who use The Avenue.

“The speed and the number of vehicles that use the road makes it difficult for people crossing.

“We believe the risk of an accident is extremely high and his exasperated by the lack of visibility at that part of the road.“The only other crossing on the road is down towards the town. Children will not, and do not, use that crossing.

“This crossing is an immediate priority.”

Responding to the call,Roy Perry, county council leader, said: “We take the safety of school children very seriously and I have asked highways and safety officers to carefully assess the road safety situation and statistics at Perins.”