HUNDREDS of people are demanding crossings on a Bournemouth road where pedestrians “take their lives in their hands”.

Turbary Park Avenue runs for almost a mile through a built-up area yet has no pedestrian crossings.

Ray Wills, chairman of the Act Community Association, said people sometimes had to wait 45 minutes before they could get across.

“People are taking their lives in their hands when they’re crossing the road,” he said.

People also need to cross the road to get to a playground and to enjoy Turbary Common.

The route connects with the dual carriageways of Ringwood Road and is heavily used as an alternative to nearby Wallisdown Road.

The association is holding a public meeting tomorrow, to discuss the issue.

The area’s three councillors have sent a message of support to the campaign.

“There have been seven major accidents in the last 10 years and 10 minor ones and obviously there have been a lot that have never been reported,” said Mr Wills.

“We’ve got 300 signatures on a petition and by the time of the meeting we’re hoping to have 400-500.”

A statement from Bournemouth council’s road safety manager John Satchwell said the council had “recently become aware” of the residents’ call for a crossing.

“Our accident record shows no incidents have taken place along this road, during the last five years, involving the injury of pedestrians,” he said.

“We regularly receive requests from residents asking for road crossing measures at locations across the borough. We will consider all such requests but must prioritise them along with other planned works, assessing them on location, level of need and accident history.”

Act Community Residents Association – representing residents around Acres Road and Turbary Park Avenue – was set up on the back of a successful Royal wedding street party in April.

Volunteers raised money through grant applications and a fete to get the association off the ground.

Tuesday’s meeting is at 7pm at the Turbary Centre on Turbary Park Avenue.