PLANS for a crossing on Westlea Drive are a step forward to improving children’s safety – but more needs to be done, a former school governor says.

Borough councillor Mary Martin announced the project on Westlea Drive near the junction with Langstone Way. The plan will see a new dropped kerb put in.

But former school governor and retired police officer Trevor Carlton, 65 said: “The traffic is getting worse. This crossing will not be good enough.

“The council is stepping in the right direction but there are other things they could do to improve safety, mainly around Westlea Primary.

“With no school crossing patroller and no proper structure at the moment, an accident will certainly happen. And I don’t want that to happen.

“I campaigned 20 years ago to install road humps and improve children’s safety but now they have no protection.

"Most of the drivers are using Westlea Drive as a rat run which increases traffic and eventually the number of accidents.

“This un-official crossing is a good thing but what they really need to do is to put priority signs so that drivers would stop speeding.”

Trevor worked with Westlea parish councillor Suresh Gattapur to set up a petition to install more safety traffic measures in Langston Way and Westlea Drive.

With the retirement of lollipop lady Sylvia Dundas earlier this year, local councillors and residents have raised concerns.

Suresh said: “Trevor was working with me, making suggestions on how this has to be done.

“So, it’s just a temporary measure. I ran a petition over the recent weeks, we needed more than 350 signatures to submit the petition and we’ve got more.

“I sent it to the mayor and got a reply from the council on July 3 saying that we would need 750 signatures as Westlea Drive is between two wards. So I have now to collect more signatures which is what I’m currently doing.

“This is a good measure but it’s not going to stop the traffic, so I’m not fully satisfied.

“I would like to a get a new school crossing patroller as it is not going to cost much and it would be better to get an official crossing.

“The traffic is growing and putting the lives of the children at risk.”

Cllr Martin said it is a good start for what they are trying to accomplish.

She said: “It’s not everything we are looking for so I will be continuing to push for more safety measures.

“I’m glad this is being done. I don’t have a date yet. I hope before the next term starts in September.”

A council spokesman said: “We are installing a crossing at this particular location to ensure pedestrians can walk across the road safely since the crossing patroller retired.

“Speeds on this road are low, with traffic calming measures in place.

"This crossing will help to increase the overall safety of the road.

“This particular site will be monitored regularly by the council to ensure it remains safe and further safety measures could be implemented if they are deemed necessary.”