CAMPAIGNERS are demanding an end to the wait for a new crossing over one of the busiest roads in Brentwood.
Every day scores of young children and their parents can be seen making a dash through speeding traffic across Ongar Road as they make their way to and from Bentley St Paul's C of E Primary School.
On October 8, all 200 pupils had to cross the road to get to their Harvest Festival service at St Paul's Church in Mores Lane, with volunteers on hand to ensure their safety.
PCSOs had also dropped into the school every three months to escort the youngsters to seasonal church services.
But that arrangement ended when police chiefs said only fully warranted officers had the training to deal with fast-moving traffic, which would have cost the school £2,000 a year.
The go-ahead for a new £250,000 Toucan crossing had been expected on the day of the Harvest Festival, but since then county councillor Derek Louis, cabinet member for highways, has delayed the decision twice, despite already signing off the design for it.
Lisa Barrett, whose son Ethan is in Year 2 at Bentley St Paul's, is also unimpressed with county councillor John Roberts, who sits on the Brentwood Highway Panel and was the only member to vote against it when it came up for discussion on October 2.
Up until that meeting, he had not visited the site, arguing he had been too busy.
Lisa had invited him to see the crossing for the Harvest Festival, but did not receive a response.
She said: "I just do not know why he voted against it."
The crossing has been a subject of concern for almost 20 years.
Lisa added: "When are we going to get a decision? We haven't got long – winter is almost on us and the council is about to change its contractors. If the work isn't started soon then the whole thing will have to go back to the drawing board."
Another parent, Sarah Goodey, whose six-year-old son Callum also attends Bentley St Paul's, said: "It's absolutely vital that we get a crossing. Is it going to take someone getting killed for the council to make a decision on this? It has gone on too long already."
Another disappointing message from the county council highways office sent to Lisa on Monday read: "Councillor Louis was presented with information today from his officers regarding the proposed Toucan crossing at the Ongar Road/Ashwells Rd junction in Brentwood.
"He will be looking over this and liaising with his officers over the next few days to make an informed decision on this. He is waiting for further information and I will be able to update you at the end of the week."
Cllr Roberts could not be contacted before the Gazette went to press.
