A petition for a new zebra crossing in Hendon long thought lost is now finally set to go before Barnet Council.

Golda Gean saw the need for improved crossing features in Bell Lane, in the hope of making drivers more alert to the high number of school children passing along the lane and making walking to and from school safer.

Her petition, started in December 2015 on the recommendation of the Highway Correspondence Team, was submitted to Barnet Council in January with 286 signatures this year, after which Ms Gean heard nothing back for months.

The council finally got back in touch last month, when they said her petition had been lost in an admin error and was finally scheduled to be discussed at the Hendon area committee on October 26.

However, while Ms Gean’s petition went unacknowledged, roadworks were begun in Bell Lane replacing the curb, installing new road signs and repainting road markings.

She said: “I am very concerned the Highways Team is doing roadworks in the area at this very moment.

“I submitted my petition long ago and feel these works are exactly the excuse the council needs to reject its proposals outright and then the children at the schools nearby will remain at risk.

“Five schools would benefit from the changes listed in the petition - Bell Lane primary school, Hendon school, Hasmonean primary school, IJDS primary school and Beis Yaakov girl school.”

Barnet Council explained the current works will not have any effect on decisions made at the committee about adding a zebra crossing.

An unnamed spokesperson said: “The current works on Bell Lane involve resurfacing of the footway will increase pedestrian safety, and create a safer crossing during the wet winter months, which is part of our £50m investment in our five-year network recovery plan.

“There was a technical error when an online petition was transferred from an external website to our own, for which we have apologised to the resident.”

Ms Gean has been invited to state her case to the committee before they make their decision at the meeting at Hendon Town Hall, The Burroughs, on October 26 at 7pm.