I READ John Martin's letter, Please Make Roads Safe (News Shopper, January 19), with sympathy.

The parents of children at Unicorn Primary School, Creswell Drive, Beckenham have been campaigning for a crossing over South Eden Park Road, near the Lodge of Harvington Estate, since the school opened in September 2003.

Acccording to the council the statistics are not right to meet the requirements for a crossing.

It is a primary school: why were no provisions made or insisted upon by the council when the school was built?

Did a road safety officer not get involved in the planning of a Primary School? Children from both Langley schools would also benefit from the crossing.

We currently run a walking bus across Harvington field and then cross South Eden Park Road by the lodge and walk along a narrow path in order to get to the school.

This is so dangerous as cars and lorries speed past.

We have had several incidents of near misses when trying to cross the road.

Surely the council owe the children and their families a duty of care to ensure no-one is knocked over or injured.

It is not acceptable to wait until something happens to justify putting in a crossing. Surely the cost of a crossing is justified against the life of a child or their family.

The council have absolutely no excuse other than it does not look right on paper.

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