Anxious parents attended a full meeting of Redbridge council last night to plead for more safety at a “dangerous” road junction.

Residents crammed into the public gallery at the Town Hall, High Road, Ilford, with their young children in support of a 1,817-strong petition for a pedestrian crossing at the junction of Northbrook Road and Cranbrook Road, Ilford.

Councillors decided last night that the proposal should be discussed further by the next meeting of the local area committee seven, which covers Valentines ward, despite a highways report saying there was no money for the scheme.

Mum Sultana Parvin told the chamber: “It is with the utmost ugency that i raise this petition.

“All residents agree that a crossing here will allow safe passage across this busy stretch of road.”

She argued that pupils of Apex Primary School, Argyle Road, regularly use the busy road to get to the park for PE lessons, but that teachers and parents struggle to make the passage safe.

Cllr Shoaib Patel, cabinet member for community safety agreed. He said: “This particular junction is somewhat awkward. I have occasionally witnessed verbal abuse from drivers to those trying to cross the road.

“Apex Primary does not have much in terms of playground space, so they regularly visit the park.”

The move came despite an report to the councillors which said major work to widen the junction for a crossing could between �250,000 and �500,000.

The officer’s report continued: “At present there are no available funds for work at this junction. Any future expenditure proposals would have to be considered as part of the process for prioritising traffic management schemes.”

The next meeting of area committee seven will be on September 27.