HIGHWAYS councillors have agred to bring forward a study into the possibility of making pedestrian routes to schools in Weydon Lane safer.

Members of Surrey County Council's local committee in Waverley were moved to bring the so-called Safe Routes to School study forward after being presented with a petition signed by 450 people at their previous meeting.

The routes in question were already included in the Safe Routes in Farnham Study, programmed to take place later in the current financial year, but in light of public concern the committee agreed to bring the study forward.

Some work has already been carried out in Weydon Lane, which is home to Weydon and Pilgrims Way schools, as part of Surrey County Council's Safe Routes to School initiative. This includes a new section of pavement into the lane from Wrecclesham Road. Before this work, the pedestrian path ran out at the junction.

But there are still other issues to be addressed. For example the western end of West Street approaching Coxbridge roundabout has a pavement only on one side, and at the end of the street pedestrians have to cross the A31 Farnham Bypass dual carriageway without any formal crossing facilities.

The route then enters Wrecclesham Road, which has a relatively narrow pavement on one side of the road, which passes underneath the railway bridge. The bridge has on occasions been struck by high-sided vehicles, some of which have overturned onto the pavement.

The study will look at all these issues to identify possible options for improvement.

Marie King-Hele, vice-chairman of the local committee and Farnham Central councillor, said: "We had already identified the need to look at pedestrian safety issues in this area, but we have listened to the clear concern of local residents demonstrated by the petition and brought the study forward.

"We will be reporting back as soon as possible about the way forward from here."

l Meanwhile, the county council is confident of overcoming obstacles to installing a second warning sign to stop overheight lorries getting stuck under Wrecclesham railway bridge.

Legal issues with the owner of the land earmarked for the sign had held up the sign which will flash "turn back" to overheight lorries approaching from the Coxbridge roundabout.

A spokesman said, following a meeting last month, the council is "confident" two remaining issues can be resolved. The spokesman was unable to estimate when the sign might be erected.