Closing a notoriously dangerous level crossing to vehicles has been ruled out by campaigners fighting for greater safety measures at the barriers.

Representatives of Barnes Primary School, Richmond Park MP Susan Kramer, councillors and Richmond Council officers met last week to step up their campaign for improvements at the White Hart Lane crossing in Barnes following accidents and near misses.

Ms Kramer said: "It is vital that safety is improved for pedestrians so they are not endangered by vehicles trying to race under the barrier before it closes."

The council's cabinet member for traffic and transport councillor David Trigg also met with representatives from Network Rail to discuss the problems. He said the time the barrier was closed was a major concern as it was currently down for up to 30 minutes in each hour, and this could increase to 45 minutes as more trains are introduced.

Network Rail had asked the council to consider closing the crossing to vehicles, however everyone ruled this out because it would cause problems accessing shops and the diversion of traffic would spill onto already crowded roads.

Ms Kramer said: "Although difficult to locate and likely to prove expensive, a footbridge does look like the most reasonable solution to improve safety here."

A spokesman for Network Rail said a full feasibility study for installing a footbridge would cost approximately £25,000.

He added: "Without closing the crossing, space at the site is limited and has an impact on what other options are available, including footbridge or subway construction.

"We will continue to look at potential developments in this area and will work with the local authority in doing so."

Coun Trigg added: "It's not an easy problem to solve but Network Rail representatives were very positive in looking at how we could move forward."