School will not get traffic lights after near miss

A zebra crossing in West Byfleet has been the subject of a road safety petition

A request to install traffic lights outside a Surrey infant school after a number of near misses reported by parents has been turned down.

A petition to replace a zebra crossing outside West Byfleet Infant and Junior Schools had been signed by 127 people, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Celia Ford, who started the campaign after she said her son was almost hit by a van on Camphill Road in July, told a council meeting: "I will forever have [it] etched in my memory, the moment my child was so close to such a horrific end."

Surrey County Council said lights were not the best option and instead recommended LED lighting at the crossing as well as a reduction in the speed limit.

Ms Ford told the Surrey County Council Highways, Transport and Economic Growth meeting how she screamed as a black van almost hit her son.

She said: "I dread to think what would have happened if I had not screamed."

The council has also said the faded zebra crossing has been repainted and a broken beacon light had been fixed, after police and officers visited the site.

Road safety and sustainable school travel manager Duncan Knox recommended schools carry out road safety training so students know how to use the crossing correctly.

Mr Knox said he would recommend reducing the speed limit on Camphill Road from 30mph to 20mph in the road safety report.