WORK to improve road safety in Bramley has taken a step closer to completion.

For more than two years Bramley Parish Council has been working closely with both Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Hampshire County Council a ‘Safe Route to School’ project.

A major part of this project is the re-working of the junction between Bramley Lane and Sherfield Road.

Plans for the junction improvements have two objectives: to provide a pedestrian refuge island on Sherfield Road east of the junction with Bramley Lane, and secondly, to widen the carriageway by modifying the north eastern kerb line and adjacent footway at the junction of Bramley Lane / Sherfield Road.

The refuge island would provide improved safety for pedestrians, in particular school children crossing the road between queuing cars, and who may fail to notice queue jumpers travelling on the wrong side of the road.

Funding for the improvements have been granted from the borough council’s local infrastructure fund, with the parish council providing additional funding.

The scheme is now at the stage where the parish council will be hoping to get approval for the work from Hampshire Highways at a meeting tonight.

A spokesperson for Bramley Parish Council said: “This particular junction is very busy, particularly at school drop off and collection times, with some parents driving to and from the school, and others walking their children to and from school.

“When the level crossing is down as well, there is an issue with cars trying to get out of Bramley Lane, and also with cars on Sherfield Road overtaking the queue for the level crossing so that they can go down Bramley Lane.”

The parish council has consulted with the community via the Parish Magazine and the Council website, and has also consulted directly with the Bramley School. Feedback received has been largely supportive, particularly from the school who are very keen to improve the safety of their pupils on their way to and from school.

Borough ward councillors and county council ward councillors have also been very supportive of this initiative which has been implemented by Bramley Parish Council initiative.