RESIDENTS in Guiseley are being urged to back a campaign and sign a petition to get a pelican crossing on a notorious stretch of road before a youngster is killed.

The group of parents from Tranmere Park Primary School are so concerned about speeding traffic along Bradford Road that they have put together a petition demanding action be taken to improve road safety.

As previously reported, the road has been without a crossing warden since before the end of last year after the previous traffic warden resigned - and despite Leeds City Council's best efforts, they have been unable to recruit anyone else. Pupils at both Tranmere Park and Guiseley School have to cross the road.

Now the parents are so desperate for a

pelican crossing they are hoping that people-power will persuade the council that a pelican crossing is needed on the road, despite the council saying that it does not meet the necessary criteria.

At the White Cross Post Office alone, more than seven pages of names have been collected already.

The petition is also available at Guiseley Library, Guiseley School

reception and Tranmere Park school office.

And a group of parents recently met a council officer at Tranmere Park Primary to see what could be done - and were

disappointed when a walking bus system, where a train of parents and pupils call at each other's houses and cross the road together, was proposed.

One of the many parents in the

campaign, Fiona Harris, said: "We're all very frightened that a child is going to get knocked down - traffic comes down the road at such high speed.

"If enough people sign the petition we hope the council will change their mind.

"A walking bus certainly isn't the answer - on Oxford Road they have both a zebra crossing and a warden.

"A number of parents are running this campaign now. People are getting so fed up that more and more are joining us.

"We want a pelican crossing - even if they got a crossing warden, it would

inadequate for the volume of traffic that uses the road."

Meanwhile, one of the original parents behind the campaign, which was first

featured last December by the Wharfedale Observer, said she has been disappointed by the council's response so far.

Mother-of-two Linda Wilson whose two children have to cross Bradford Road to get to Guiseley School, said: "I am disappointed at the response of the city council.

"They say they are not even prepared to put in a pelican crossing.

"The problem with waiting for someone to take on the crossing job is that the area doesn't have the sort of people who would want to stand on the road.

"A lot of older residents on Tranmere are quite well to do and do their own thing when they retire."

Coun Graham Latty (Cons, Aireborough) said told the Wharfedale that he fully supported the parents' petition and added that he had written to head of highways Jim McArthur a couple of weeks ago asking him what he could do to alleviate the problems, but had not yet had a reply.

The campaign also has the backing of MP Paul Truswell.

Leeds City Council say that they are doing their utmost to attract a crossing patrol warden to the post and that the position has been labelled a priority.