A NEW pavement will give children a safer walk to and from Edenbridge Primary School and reduce illegal parking, it is hoped.

O'Brien Homes has agreed to lay a walkway along Croft Lane to Edenbridge Primary School, linking Market Lane with Market Yard car park.

The developers are building six three-bedroom terraced cottages off Croft Lane and, under a legal agreement, are obliged to lay the pavement.

Primary school head teacher Dr Rosemary Addison said: "That will be brilliant from a safety point of view.

"A pavement would make it a lot easier and safer."

Town council clerk Christine Lane said O'Brien Homes has told the council the work on the pavement would begin before half the development was completed.

She said: "The council is really delighted. We've wanted that footpath there for many years to provide a safe walking route for the children."

At present, pedestrians have to walk along the side of the dangerous stretch of road.

A new pavement should also help to reduce illegal parking in Croft Lane and Forge Croft, particularly around school finishing times, which has caused some residents concern.

Councillor Richard Davison welcomed the news.

He said: "I believe the parking all along there is dangerous.

"It's a narrow road, if there is a row of parked cars there is no room for two other cars to pass, that's why the yellow lines are there.

"I'm very pleased it looks like there's light at the end of the tunnel and people will now consider using the car park."

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