Children are having to “dice with danger” to get to a park, as calls for a crossing intensify.

More than 80 names have been put to a petition urging councillors to give the go-ahead for the installation of a crossing in Longwood Gardens, opposite Clayhall Park, Clayhall.

According to residents living close to the park, vulnerable groups including children and the elderly are putting their lives on the line navigating the road.

They say many park users are crossing Longwood Gardens using the island from a width restriction zone to try to make a safe journey across.

Gerry Hanley, of Queenborough Gardens, made an impassioned plea to councillors sitting on area committee four during a meeting at Sinclair House, Woodford Bridge Road, Redbridge, on Thursday.

He said: “It [the width restriction] is inadequate as a crossing. I’m sure we can do better than that.

“What we’re asking for is a pelican crossing traffic island to help people get into the park in a safe manner.

“A similar area, Valentines Park, has five crossings to get to that park.”

He added: “A lot of people drive to Clayhall Park because they don’t have a safe crossing.

“I’m seriously worried that there is going to be a fatal accident there. People are dicing with danger.”

Council leader and committee member Cllr Keith Prince said he and fellow Conservative Cllr Tania Solomon had identified a possible site for a crossing during a visit to the area.

He said: “It would be desirable to have a crossing there.

“The reality is that there are a number of streets similar to this across the borough that need crossings.”

He said funding for a crossing would depend on how high on the council’s priority list the road was, with past accidents taken into account.

Cllr Prince added: “I have a duty to all the people of Redbridge to deal with the most important roads first.”