Silence over Merton Council’s controversial road re-design, which parents say is putting children’s lives at risk, has been blasted by residents and councillors.

The council has not revealed documents explaining why metal railings - which line a busy road near three schools - on Burlington Road in Raynes Park were removed last month, with parents claiming their removal means children are more likely to run into the road and become victims of accidents.

Resident Jenny Edmond-Smith claimed the decision could have disastrous consequences. She said: “The guard-rail was the only thing that stopped children and adults stepping into the road. It’s not there any more and sooner or later someone will be badly injured or killed on this blind and dangerous bend.”

She called for the council to publish a safety audit that was apparently done before the council decided to dig out the railings - which were removed during a larger programme of work to re-design the roads near West Barnes level crossing.

The council did not respond to the Wimbledon Guardian’s request for a copy of the safety audit. But a report into road railings written for the council in December 2009 said there were drawbacks to using them - and warned they can discourage road users and pedestrians from thinking about safety issues.

It stated: “The presumption should always be that no Pedestrian Guard Railings (PGR) are provided, with a clearly-reasoned case having to be made for the retention/installation of every panel of PGR.”

Ian Dysart, a Liberal Democrat councillor for West Barnes ward, also asked for the information to be made public and attacked the council’s decision. He said: “I think it’s a nice theory but in practice it doesn’t work. We are very concerned they have made the wrong move. We are calling for those barriers to be re-instated.”

He added: “Someone has come up with a pen and paper exercise and not thought through the implications.”