SOUTH East Water is urging motorists to obey diversion signs placed in Hook, after reports of dangerous driving near a school’s bus stop was reported to The Gazette.

John Moseley, of The Street, in Rotherwick, has spoken to The Gazette to voice his concerns for children walking along the road after South East Water closed a section of Reading Road, between the junctions of Hook Road and Cowfold Lane, as part of major works to lay a new main.

Mr Moseley’s two children, who attend Robert May’s School, walk along The Street and have to cross Cowfold Lane to their bus stop – a crossroads many motorists unwilling to follow South East Water’s road diversions use.

The Street is unlit and as Mr Moseley’s children have to get to their bus stop by 7.15am, when it is still dark, he is worried that it is only a matter of time until a child gets injured when walking along the road.

He said: “It’s a massive concern for the parents whose children have to walk along this road. Motorists aren’t using the diversion because it adds about another 30 minutes to journey time, and by speeding along this crossroad and turning left or right, it means only adding two minutes.

“Myself and the other parents have spoken about it, and although the bus stop is only just down the road from our house, we’re taking it in turns to drive them to the bus stop.”

Mr Moseley estimates that 10 children use the wooden bus-stop. He hopes the bus service, run by Hampshire County Council, can move the stop or come up with a solution.

The road is expected to be closed until November as the three-phase £620,000 scheme is completed.

South East Water said in a statement: “We have been in liaison with the local highways team and have agreed to do some additional measures to try and stop people not using the diversion. We are going to reduce the speed limit to 30mph along Cowfold Lane and Hook Road, put large VMS signs at the junction of Reading Road and Cowfold Lane and Reading Road and Hook Road warning people that local roads are not suitable for diversion traffic and are for residents only, and put additional signage warning motorists to slow down along Cowfold Lane and Hook Road.”

County councillor Rob Humby said: “I would advise any parents who have any concerns to get in touch.”