Parents who rallied for a pedestrian crossing near primary schools and nurseries say the current situation is 'criminal'.

Over 50 parents, children and community representatives gathered in protest over the lack of safe crossing points for youngsters along St Barnabas Road in Woodford Green yesterday (April 14).

When Woodbridge High School was given permission to expand in 2014, planning conditions stated that another road crossing had to be built nearby to accommodate more pupils.

But parents of children at primary schools and nurseries in the area say the crossing should be installed closer to the Gordon Road junction because of dangerous drivers and a blind corner.

Mother-of-two Tamara Sturges said: “We have to cross by the Gordon Road junction twice a day and for some bizarre reason nobody who drives down there pays any attention to where they are going.

“I find it inconceivable that there isn’t a crossing there, it’s absolutely criminal given how dangerous it is.

“Sooner or later there is going to be an accident.”

The 44-year-old, whose two daughters go to Churchfields Junior School, says she fears for her 11-year-old’s safety.

She said: “My eldest has got a place at Woodbridge in September when she’ll start walking on her own.

“But it’s so bad I’m inclined not to let her.”

Eleanor Glover, 33, whose four children go to Oakdale School and Mil Grove Nursery, said: “I have lived in South Woodford all my life, and when I was younger we used to have a lollypop lady helping children cross.

“Now there’s nothing like that and it’s very dangerous for children to cross because you can’t see around the corner.

“It makes more sense for the crossing to be put in closer to Gordon Road.”

Dawn Hunter, 46, of Fairview Gardens, said: “I have stood in the middle of that road with three children and still no one will let you cross.

“Drivers are texting and not looking where they’re going, they don’t indicate and they pay no attention to the mini roundabout.

“More people in the community would benefit from a crossing near Gordon Road because children from Woodbridge, Oakdale, Churchfields and the nurseries could all use it.

Deputy pre-school manager at Mil Grove Nursery in Crescent Road, Jodie Green, said: “There is a huge risk to children’s safety along St Barnabas Road.

“With so much speeding traffic at rush hour, we need to make sure young children’s safety remains the biggest priority.”

The protest comes after Redbridge Council claimed the reason it has not yet installed a crossing was because opposition councillor Gwyneth Deakins could not agree on its location,

Cllr Deakins said: "The amount of people who turned up to protest shows I am reflecting the views of local people.

"The council claims my disagreement about where the crossing should go has caused the delay, but that is no excuse for no action for two whole years.

"If what they say is true and they are considering installing two crossing that's great, but we just need them to get on with it."

Redbridge Council has been contact for comment.