TOWN councillors have vowed to continue their fight to install a pedestrian crossing and improve safety on Calne's London Road.

They have been pursuing the project since 1998, but little progress has been made. But at a meeting of the council's planning and economic regeneration committee last week members agreed to continue to push Wiltshire County Council for a safe crossing.

As a temporary measure the council will set up signs indicating the location of two pedestrian refuges, situated on the road.

The main safety concerns revolve around the scores of children who ignore the refuges when they cross the road to stop at Carter's general store, in the morning, on route to John Bentley School.

Coun Mercy Baggs, who has been fighting for a zebra crossing on the road for years, said: "Something needs to be done. The signs will not educate the kids walking to John Bentley School to walk the extra distance to the refuges. In the morning they want to go to the general store in the road to buy their drinks, sweets and snacks."

The county council has carried out traffic surveys and suggested the best location for a crossing or refuge would be outside Carter's food store and off-licence. This would mean the store would lose two parking spaces, and the county council felt this would provoke local objections.

In January, Calne's deputy town clerk Linda Wakefield arranged a meeting with the chairman of John Bentley School's PTA. It was agreed that a survey indicating how many pupils crossed the London Road close to the junction with Shelburne Road.

But in her report to the town council Mrs Wakefield said despite several attempts to kick-start the project little progress has been made.