AFTER a decade of campaigning, parents are celebrating as work to put a zebra crossing in their village nears completion.
Bookham residents began calling for the crossing in Lower Road ten years ago, but it wasn't until a 14-year-old girl was injured by a car last year that support for the campaign grew.
County councillors then recommended the installation of a zebra crossing on the road last September.
But it wasn't until March 11 that workmen arrived in the village to start building the crossing, which will be used by hundreds of children attending the Howard of Effingham, Eastwick Junior and Dawnay schools.
Lin Hulford, campaign organiser and chairwoman of Residents of Middlemead Estate, said: "Until I saw the signs going up I didn't believe it.
"I had to go and check that it was for the crossing and not for something else.
"But it's great to see the work going ahead at last. It will be so nice when it's up and running."
Mrs Hulford had been working with concerned parents of children at schools in the area to push for the crossing to be placed at the point on Lower Road where she felt it is most needed.
The Middlemead Road resident has also praised the efforts of district councillor Phil Harris in lobbying county councillors to recommend the crossing.
"He has been a great help," she said. "I think it was his pushing that finally made it come through."
The Lib Dem councillor said he is delighted to see residents' hard work on the campaign paying off.
"It's very good news," he said. "I am very pleased they are going ahead with it. I hope it means the children can all cross safely.
"I worked closely with Councillor Clare Curran on this and it was quite a push, but finally we have got it to go up.
"I am very glad to hear the residents are pleased with it. This was a team effort to get the best outcome for the village.
"It's the community in the end who will always make sure change happens where it's needed."
