CAMPAIGNERS are calling on civic chiefs to progress with their promise of installing a “vital” crossing on a dangerous Romsey road.

Last month, following almost a year of campaigning, Hampshire County Council (HCC) had confirmed it would “progress with plans” for the safe crossing point on Duttons Road by installing a puffin crossing, to aid students walking to the town’s train station and industrial estate.

Now campaigners are calling for more clarity to be given after the council said the process would take “a number of months”.

Cllr Rob Humby, county council member for environment and transport, said: “We are prioritising this work and will seek to complete the crossing as quickly as we can, but there are a number of important steps we need to take before installation can begin.

“We have received a lot of support from residents to install the crossing, but we must ensure we do the appropriate preliminary and detailed engineering design work first.

“I would expect the whole design, approval and installation process to take a number of months.”

But Nik Daas, founder of Romsey Youth Voices, who pushed for the crossing plans, has vowed to keep pushing until the crossing is built on the “dangerous road”.

“The news that the council agreed to install the puffin crossing at Duttons Road was a welcome one,” he said.

“Recently I emailed leader of the county council, Roy Perry, to ask for the date at which the council wish to action these procedures.

“I was extremely disappointed to hear that the council has no immediate plan in place for the crossing.”

He added: “It seems to me that the council announced the ‘progressing’ of the crossing to relieve the local campaign pressure and deal with it at their own pace.

“I and the others I am working with will not be appeased by the throw away comments the council have put forward and will be campaigning for the council to build the crossing by October 1, 2018.

“Cllr Perry has promised the people of Romsey the crossing so now we want him to deliver on that promise in a timely manner.”

Every day during term time, hundreds of pupils cross the busy road.

But in 2016, the crossing patrolwoman, employed by the county council, retired midway through the summer term.

The council decided not to replace her and there is now no patrol nor suitable crossing point on this busy stretch of road.

This prompted calls to install the crossing from residents, parents and local groups alike.

Romsey town councillor Mark Cooper, who has been part of the push, said: “I was given a clear message by HCC that the Duttons Road crossing was both justified on safety grounds and achievable financially.

“The Romsey School and its pupils’ parents are right to be anxious about any potential delays. I strongly urge the county to give us an installation date otherwise the matter will drift.

“Children’s safety does not countenance prevarication.”

In response to the calls for clarity, Cllr Perry said: “As leader of the council I am pleased the executive member was able to identify the funding and to agree its allocation for a puffin crossing in Duttons Road.

“I would ask the people who have contacted the Advertiser and its readers to recognise that Hampshire County Council, in common with all upper tier authorities, is grappling with huge pressures on resources and significant increases in demand for child and adult care.

“I wish I could solve all the funding problems but that will not be possible but this is one issue where we have been able to find a solution.”