I REFER to the letter from Mr T J Turner (Your Letters, September 26). I would like to take this opportunity to emphasise that Worcestershire County Council considers road safety, and in particular the safety of school children, to be of the highest priority. I should also point out that my comment in the September 19 edition was to support, in principle, pedestrian safety at British Camp, for which no funding has so far been identified.

The county council's commitment to road safety is demonstrated by the improvements which have already been made at the 212 schools which have already taken part in the Safer Routes to School initiative. Great Malvern Primary School was one of the first schools in Malvern Hills to take part in the Safer Routes initiative and parents and pupils did not identify Pickersleigh Road as a problem at that time.

However, parents, teachers and governors have left us in no doubt that it is now considered to be a problem. So what is being done to address these very real concerns?

1. The Sustainable Transport Team are re-looking at the Pickersleigh Road crossing and will assess how the concerns can best be addressed.

2. The Highways Partnership Unit, in conjunction with the school has carried out work to make the existing crossing as safe as possible. The work includes improved visibility, the installation of four slow markings on the carriageway approaching the school and the provision of new high intensity school crossing warning lights, which in addition to being more effective are also capable of being controlled remotely.

3. Roger Woodward, the council's road safety officer, is currently working hard to fill the school crossing patrol vacancy and members of the community who have considered doing this immensely worthwhile job, may wish to contact him on (01905) 766757.

In conclusion, Worcestershire County Council recognises concerns about the crossing in Pickersleigh Road and is working hard to make the existing crossing as safe as possible. The need for improved crossing facilities is currently being examined and if funds become available the site will be given a high priority.

MIKE DAVIS, highways partnership manager, Avenue Road, Malvern.