A “DANGEROUS” bus stop in Rotherwick has been temporarily moved.

Parents of children attending Robert May’s School, in Hook, thanked The Gazette for helping get the bus stop in The Street, Rotherwick, moved after concerns were raised about children walking to the stop whilst major roadworks closed a section of Reading Road.

A diversion has been set up as a new main is laid by South East Water (SEW), but motorists have reportedly been unwilling to use it so instead use the Cowfold Lane crossroads where the children have to cross to get to the bus stop.

The Street, which is intersected with Cowfold Lane and Hook Road, is unlit and as children using the bus stop have to be there by 7.15am, when it is still dark, some parents were worried that it would only be a matter of time until a child got injured when walking along the road.

But now Hampshire County Council (HCC), in charge of the school’s transport, has moved the bus stop after being alerted to the matter by the Gazette last week.

HCC’s executive member for environment and transport Councillor Rob Humby said: “Following an enquiry from the Basingstoke Gazette and subsequently parents of pupils attending Robert May’s School, we have added a temporary bus stop outside the Coach and Horse pub while the work by South East Water takes place.

“We are also working with our highways team to install temporary traffic lights to deter motorists from using this route, to make it less congested for pedestrians.”

John Moseley, who has two children that use the bus stop, thanked the Gazette for getting the matter highlighted urgently with HCC.

He said: “As a group of parents we are really delighted at how quickly the county council has acted. We are grateful to the Gazette who were quick to highlight the matter with the council. I doubt the issue would have been resolved so quickly had it not been in contact with them.”

Road closures will continue until November.

To ensure safety, SEW said it would implement a reduced speed limit along Cowfold Road and Hook Road as well as several ‘slow’ and 30mph speed reduction signs.

SEW also issued a plea for motorists to follow the signal diversion route around the road closure.