RESIDENTS campaigning for a pedestrian crossing on a busy Bournemouth road have been given fresh hope.

The ACT residents’ group has been calling for improvements on Turbary Park Avenue, which runs for almost a mile through a built-up area with no crossings.

Bournemouth council is preparing a bid to the Department of Transport for grant money to improve access to district centres, areas of employment and schools.

A statement from Ian Kalra, transportation services manager at the council, said: “The installation of pedestrian crossings will play a key part in this along with other measures such as improved cycling facilities. Turbary Park Avenue has already been identified as part of this project.”

ACT chairman Ray Wills, who took the issue before the full council last year, said he was “optimistic”.

He added: “We should know more in June following their bid for increased monies to fund such projects.

“We are ranking highly on their assessment criteria and they are also placing our request for traffic calming measures with the road safety section for consideration.”