COUNCILLORS are making one final attempt to have a crossing installed at a busy junction for the safety of Ringwood's townspeople.

Ringwood Town Councillors are set to meet with members from both New Forest District Council and Hampshire County Council to discuss installing a crossing at Christchurch Road where the new Lidl supermarket opened a few weeks ago.

The budget store paid more than £150,000 in transport contribution costs as part of its planning permission - money which Ringwood claims the New Forest District Council has "been sitting on" for months.

Now, in one last-ditch effort, town councillors will urge the district council and county council - responsible for highways - to install the crossing at a meeting on Monday (MAR 13).

Residents have been calling for a crossing at the site for several years, concerned about children making their way to and from school.

But a lack of funds meant the work could never be carried out.

Ringwood Town Councillor Philip Day said: "Then Lidl came along and part and parcel of them getting planning consent was to pay £152,000 to fund highway improvements and that money was paid in June last year.

"We have gone back to NFDC and said 'you have been sitting on that money for months. We want you to spend that money putting in a crossing'.

"NFDC have the money, Lidl don't have any say how it's spent and Hampshire County Councillor have to deliver it. We have had the devil's own job getting them to talk to each other."

At their recent planning, town and environment committee meeting, town councillors were told that the county council wanted to analyse pedestrian traffic before committing to a crossing - something councillor Day said would not be accurately reflective as people are avoiding using the road on foot because there is no crossing.

"We know full well that parents with children tend to drive them to school, rather than walk, because they are concerned about them crossing the road," councillor Day told the Echo.

"With Lidl there is increased pedestrian traffic - or the potential for there to be.

"We want to explain to members what we want and why we want it. They have made it clear they are willing to listen to local people who have knowledge about the area.

"I'm hoping the outcome will be 'yes, you're absolutely right'.

"We are sat there in despair sometimes. But now we're going to thrash it out on Monday and hopefully we can persuade them to get on and do it."

In the event NFDC and HCC deny the road a crossing Ringwood members have said they will hold a public meeting on the matter.