CONCERNED parents and local residents have signed a petition calling for better safety measures for children crossing the road to Mudeford Junior School.

More than 300 people put pen to paper voicing their concerns about the current facilities in place and branding them “totally inadequate.”

The petition, which was presented to councillors at Christchurch+Borough+Council">Christchurch Borough Council’s full council meeting, added that due to the volume of traffic using the road, the facilities in place were dangerous.

Rose-Marie Groves, who presented the document, said: “Vehicles will not allow the children and their parents to cross the road safely and we feel that it is just a matter of time before a serious accident takes place outside the school.

“This situation is further compromised by the number of vehicles parked within the vicinity of the school.

“We therefore ask that consideration be given to supplying a crossing warden during the times that pupils are going to and from the school.”

A spokesperson for Mudeford Junior School said the governors had written to Dorset County Council and Christchurch Borough Council over the matter.

In 2008 the council installed a speed table across the width of the road and a number of speed cushions to slow down the traffic outside the school.

But after some complaints about damage to cars, the council removed the speed cushions, replacing them with road narrowings, while leaving the main speed table in place.

The petition will be forwarded to the community services committee.