A permanent pedestrian crossing on a "dangerous" Kenilworth road may not be installed until 2027, residents have been told.

A petition calling for the speed limit on Leamington Road to be reduced to 30mph and for a safe crossing to be installed was presented by locals to Warwickshire County Council this week.

Presenting the petition, the public speaker said the works were "not a matter of convenience" but a "matter of safety".

"Families with small children, old people and people with disabilities have no choice but to run across that road in rush hour, in the dark, in the rain in order to catch a bus," they said. 

"People have been living at Kenilworth Gate for two and a half years now. 

"This problem should have been resolved before somebody moved into the development. 

"There are no approved plans, no timelines for fixing this issue."

The town's MP Sir Jeremy Wright has backed the campaign meanwhile  Cllr Richard Dickson said it was a "privilege" to support the residents of Kenilworth Gate in the petition, which had hit over 1,000 signatures.

Cllr Dickson said at the meeting: "Residents cannot get easily and safely to Kenilworth town centre. 

"There is no easy and safe access to and from a bus stop. 

"There is no easy or safe access to the nearby Bullimore Wood where children can play and dogs can be taken for a walk. 

"It will be many years yet before a crossing is planned to be put in, but even then, the crossing will be at least 150m away from Kenilworth and in completely the wrong direction for people of Kenilworth Gate. 

"Worst of all, Leamington Road is the only road out of or into Kenilworth - and there are eight of those roads - where the speed limit is 40mph and not 30mph as it should be."

Speaking in response, portfolio holder for transport and planning, Cllr Jennifer Warren thanked the petitioners and said the realistic timeline for a permanent fix would be 2026/27.

"We are working to resolve the issue," she said. 

"There is a planning requirement for developers to install an effective and permanent entrance to the site with appropriate and safe facilities for pedestrians. 

"We continue to work with the developer [Charles Church] to secure a satisfactory solution."

Cllr Warren said the local authority is still working with the developer to find "interim or temporary safety measures".