Next fence blocks shortcut through Felpham Community College

The metal barrier stops people being able to walk through the campus from Drygrounds Lane to get to the neighbouring Arun Leisure Centre.

This means pedestrians and cyclists from northern Felpham face a lengthy detour to reach the leisure centre.

It involves having to use the crossings at either Drygrounds Lane or the Downview Road/A259 Felpham Way traffic lights junction. They then go down to the pedestrian crossing as the A259 crosses the Aldingbourne Rife before doubling back to reach the leisure centre.

Some have instead been spotted walking along the narrow grass verge which runs for several hundred metres alongside the northern half of the A259 dual carriageway.

Ormesby Crescent resident Margaret Petzold has called for a pavement to be installed along the verge to provide a safe route.

"Having to use the crossings makes it quite a distance to reach the leisure centre when you live only five minutes from the back of it."

Mrs Petzold said those who were tempted to take the shortcut along the grass verge were putting themselves at risk. People in electric wheelchairs could only use the crossings to face a much longer journey.

Tracey Webb, the county council's area highways manager, said Mrs Petzold's request would be considered.

"It is not likely to happen in the near future, though," she warned.

n Felpham Community College headteacher Peter Cook said this weekthe gate which barred access from Drygrounds Lane was being left open temporarily as a compromise.

"We will not be locking it in the evenings and the weekends for the time being to allow people to allow people access through the site while they get used to the situation," he said.

"But we can't condone access through the site for the safety of our 1,400 youngsters and the members of the public using the route."

The gate forms part of a fence on the southern edge of the campus next to the trees alongside the A259. Another fence had been put along the site's eastern boundary, which borders a public footpath, and which had been completely open.

Both resulted from comments made by an Ofsted inspector last March who stated the campus was the most open she had seen.

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