ROAD safety experts will investigate parents' concerns that hundreds of children are risking their lives by crossing a busy street outside two York schools.

Council officers are proposing to monitor traffic speeds and look at danger spots in Heslington Lane after hundreds of residents signed a petition submitted to City of York Council in February demanding a crossing was immediately installed.

The petitioners argued it was unacceptable that children and parents attending St Oswald's Primary and Fulford Secondary schools had to rely on a raised speed table painted red, flanked by parking spaces, to cross the busy road.

One schoolgirl was hit by a car in January and the last lollipop lady quit the post after only six months due to the stress of having to deal with abusive drivers.

More than 560 people backed the call to urgently improve road safety, including 97 parents who walk their children along Heslington Lane every day, and 48 teachers.

Members of the council's planning and transport advisory committee are now being asked to back further investigations by officers into ways of improving safety.

There is also the possibility that a bus stop will be moved to improve visibility for motorists.

The local authority had said in the past that any new crossing would be part of a planned private finance initiative to rebuild St Oswald's Primary and also that a travel plan was being created.

Petition organiser Helen Adcock told the Evening Press she was pleased the matter was being discussed by the council, but had been disappointed that no safety improvements had been made in the weeks since the petition had been submitted.

She said: "I would have thought that between then and now, they would have installed some signage. I am going to hold my breath and see what happens."

Fishergate ward councillor Andy D'Agorne, who backed the petition along with Fulford Parish Council, said: "I don't think the people who live in the area will be particularly encouraged by the response. I am disappointed that there doesn't seem to be any suggestions of a way forward to address the concerns of residents."

Members of the advisory panel will meet at the Guildhall on Wednesday at 5pm.

Updated: 08:33 Thursday, March 31, 2005