Nearly 400 people living in north Swindon say there should be a pedestrian crossing put into Thames Avenue.

And a petition with their names has been handed in to Swindon Borough Council, and will be debated later this month.

The petition calls for a crossing to be put on the busy main road which runs through Haydon Wick between Trent Road and Pen Close.

That would help, the petitioners say, to allow people to cross a section of the road at the bottom of a hill where Thames Avenue swings left and traffic runs quickly – and is especially needed because there are two schools, shops, a pub and a playing field very nearby.

Handing the petition to the Mayor, Abdul Amin was resident and one of the petition organising team Stanka Adamcova.

She said: “We’ve been asking for a crossing at this point in the road for years. We’ve got on to the new councillor for Haydon Wick Matt Lodge who took up the cause, he’s talking to council officers and they’re looking at it – but we want to maintain the momentum on this.

“We want to show the strength of feeling about this in Haydon Wick, and how many people want this crossing and also the urgent need for it.

“We hope this petition makes the council realise the crossing is needed as soon as possible.”

Joining Stanka in handing the petition in were Haydon Wick locals Josh Woods and Steve Henderson and former borough council leader and councillor for Haydon Wick Tony Mayer.

Mr Mayer said: “This has been going on for decades – but it always gets pushed back. There’s a speed bump at the top of the hill, but traffic has got up speed by the time it gets to the bottom of the hill.

“As the road swings left there is a raised surface – but that’s where we need the crossing, especially because that’s where people cross to get to the schools.”

The next full council meeting is at the council chamber in Euclid Street starting at 7pm on Thursday, January 19. Stanka will be there and will address the councillors hoping to persuade them of the need to install a crossing.

The borough council’s website says the best way to get a road considered for a crossing is to talk to one of your ward councillors.

Sites will be put into a review where the need is assessed and priorities are set.