Safety improvements starting at South Bersted Primary School

The 68,000 county council works will involve widening Highfield Road near Ivy Lane and putting in a pedestrian island, improvements to the surface, new pedestrian railings and road markings.

Temporary traffic lights will be used at times during the ten weeks it is likely to take to complete. Work will generally take place from 7am to 5pm and, occasionally, on Saturdays between 8am and 1pm.

The scheme is part of the West Sussex County Council safer routes to school scheme, which aims to reduce car travel and increase other ways of getting to school, such as walking, cycling, car sharing and public transport.

It also aims to raise awareness of the impact of car travel on the environment and on personal health.

Francis Oppler, the county councillor for the area, said he was pleased the works were about to start. "I welcome anything that will improve the safety of children and other residents. However, I am disappointed it has not proved possible to have a 20mph zone around the school in Church Lane. That would benefit both the school and local residents."

Cllr Oppler said talks about the issue with county council highways officers had stalled over his request to have the lower speed limit around the clock.

"The 20mph limit is needed by the residents for 24 hours a day, not the two to three hours the council want to have it operating.

"If they are going to go to the expense of putting in all the equipment and markings, it makes sense to me to have the speed limit all day," he commented.