More than 400 residents who demanded council action on an “unacceptable” and “unsafe” stretch of road and pavement near a school in Ashtead are celebrating Surrey County Council’s response to their petition.

Ashtead mothers Jayne Mansfield and Julia Steinhardt launched the petition demanding that Surrey County Council improve the A24 near The Greville Primary School, install a pedestrian crossing and reduce the 40 miles per hour speed limit.

From June: More than 400 residents demand pedestrian crossing and speed limit reduction for A24 near Greville Park School in Ashtead

Mole Valley Local Committee considered the petition at a meeting on Wednesday, June 15.

Council officers have since recommended installing a pedestrian crossing near the school in Bramley Way, Ashtead, and proposed that speed surveys are carried out on the A24 Epsom Road.

Ms Mansfield, a business analyst from Woodlands Way, said: “I think it will encourage more people to walk to school and those who already do will feel a lot safer just by having the verge cut back.

“Having a crossing and the speed survey as well is really positive.

“It is good news that they are trying to rectify this because it is quite dangerous.”

Surrey Comet:

Ms Mansfield believes the existing island crossing near the school is insufficient for young children and parents trying to cross safely.

She also believes uncut undergrowth along the A24 make the pavement narrow and unsafe.

Ms Mansfield said: “There just isn’t room for pedestrians to pass each other without stepping into the road. It makes me shudder every time.”

Surrey Comet:

Surrey County Council figures show one crash took place in the immediate vicinity of the Bramley Way junction with the A24 between April 1, 2013 and March 31, 2016. Surrey Police noted speed was not a contributory factor and that the crash did not involve a pedestrian.

The council does not hold any recent data on traffic speeds on A24 Epsom Road.

A spokesperson for Surrey County Council said the provision of a pedestrian crossing would be considered “due to the expansion of The Greville Primary School (to a maximum of 660 pupils by 2018), the lack of footway on the western side of the A24 Epsom Way just to the south of the junction with Bramley Way and the pedestrians having to cross the A24 Epsom Road in order to access Ashtead Park, The Burrow Nursery and the bus stop”.

They added: “It is proposed that Officers carry out speed surveys to determine if an extension of the existing 30mph speed limit would comply with Surrey’s speed limit policy.

“If compliant with the policy and following consultation with the divisional Member, the request could then be added to the Integrated Transport Schemes list for consideration for future funding.”