A ROAD could have its speed limit reduced following parent’s concerns that it is not safe for children to cross on their way to school.

Parents of children who live on the Barton Park estate are becoming increasingly concerned about the nearby pedestrian crossing on the 50mph A40 Northern Bypass.

Resident Michelle Francis and her five-year-old daughter have to use the crossing every day to get to Barton Park Primary School.

She said: “People rag around Barton Park like it’s a racetrack and it’s really scary.

“You have to be on your guard when you are using that crossing, even if it’s a green man, as it can become dangerous.

“There are no cameras to catch anyone going through a red light and there are so many blind corners.”

Ms Francis and a number of other parents from the estate have been campaigning for the council to create the crossing safer for over a year.

Next Friday the group are holding a protest at 3.30pm on Friday.

Bryony McCraw, the headteacher at Barton Park Primary School, said she fully supports the parent's campaign.

She said: “I think first of all the estates fantastic; the council has done a great job in many, many ways but I do think there are problems with road safety in an estate as a whole.

“My main concern about the crossing is that the parents should be able to use their legs and bicycles and feel safe in doing so.

“Also the children from our estate, when they grow up they will be attending secondary school – and there is no secondary school on this side of the estate, so we do need to make sure they are safe.”

Oxfordshire County Council said it is looking to reduce the current 50mph speed limit to 40mph.

A spokesperson for the council added: “We take the concerns of residents very seriously and will do what we can to improve safety at Barton Park. However, enforcement of moving traffic offences committed by motorists (e.g. banned movements) is currently beyond the County Council’s powers, but we have engaged with Thames Valley Police to see if they will carry out some enforcement.

“A Road Safety Audit of the junction was carried out by an independent auditor last year in line with county council policy. The auditors made several recommendations of improvements that could be made to improve safety. Most of these have been implemented, with further works planned in the near future.”

The council will also add more signs to the junction to reinforce the no ‘U-turn’ rule.