TALKS to create a safe crossing for children over the A44 in Bromyard are being held up by negotiations over land needed to carry out the project.

For the past two years Bromyard and Winslow Town Council has been asking for a school crossing to be created to ensure the safety of children walking from Winslow Road to Queen Elizabeth High School.

Andrew Lee-Jones, Herefordshire Council's lead engineer, said: "As part of our Safer Routes to Schools programme, which has been going on for a number of years, we have identified a need for a proper crossing over the A44.

"The problem we have got for a crossing from Panniers Lane to Winslow Road on the other side, is that the footpath is not wide enough for us to put a zebra crossing. At the moment we are negotiating with the landowner to try and secure land to ensure the footpath is full width. Because it's being used by school children, it's very busy so anything less than full width would cause a problem.

"We have ordered all the equipment to install and we are working to resolve this. We hope it will be sooner rather than later."

Coun Bill Gibbard said: "Herefordshire Council should either re-site the crossing or compulsorily purchase the piece of land they require. It really is disgraceful.

"If you drive from Leominster you would be amazed how poor the traffic calming measures are coming into the town. The whole thing is just waiting for an accident to happen."