BUSHY Park is getting a new pedestrian gate and campaigners are describing the development as "a great relief."

The new gate for walkers is being installed to the right of the park's Hampton Court entrance, directly next to the Lion Gate mews hotel.

Local groups have long campaigned for the new gate as it will make getting into Bushy Park safer.

At the moment, people using the zebra crossing to get to the Lion Gate must cross two lanes of traffic before they can go in via the pedestrian entrance.

There is no traffic island between the cars and only small area of pavement to wait on.

Now after a 10 year campaign from the Teddington Society and Friends of Bushy and Home Park, the park manager has secured funding for the new gate.

Work has already begun and it is hoped the gate will be complete before Christmas.

In a post on its website, The Teddington Society said: "For the last ten years, the Friends of Bushy and Home Parks (FBHP) and others have been pressing for a pedestrian gate next to the Lion Gate Hotel.

"There had been great concern over the safety of pedestrians wishing to enter Bushy Park from the zebra crossing outside the Lion Gate.

"It is with great relief to see that work has started on installing a pedestrian gate to the east of the double traffic gates at the Hampton Court Gate of Bushy Park."