A petition to install a gate on a “dangerous” footpath leading to the A404 after a number of dogs were killed after running out on to the dual carriageway has gathered hundreds of signatures.

Marlovian Moya Fillmore is calling for a fence and self-closing gate to be put in across the footpath that runs from the east side of the A404 underpass, adjacent to Gossmore Recreation Ground, along the north east side of the southbound A404, after her dog Cassie was killed when she was hit by a car on the busy road.

She said the open nature of the footpath was “extremely dangerous” and a number of dogs had got on to the A404(M) from the footpath and killed.

She said: “The potential for a major traffic incident, causing serious injury or death, is extremely high.”

A gofundme page, set up by Susan Sharman, is raising money for the gate, which they want to name after Cassie.

Susan wrote: “While out with her owner, [Cassie] wandered onto a track that led up to the road. A number of dogs have lost their lives in the same place.

“There are no signs warning of the risks and the track is completely open. 

“Cassie’s owner and her friends are raising money to put a kissing gate and fence across the track to prevent other dogs losing their lives here. 

“Cassie was a beautiful and very friendly dog.

“In her short life, she helped raised funds for Child Bereavement UK. 

“Please help us raise funds for ‘Cassie’s Gate’ so this tragedy doesn’t happen again.”

Moya said in a social media post that Bucks County Council had admitted it owned the land and Cllr Alex Collingwood, county and district councillor for Marlow, was discussing the fence and gate with the highways team at Bucks County Council.

She said if the county council agrees to installing the gate and fence, all donations on the gofundme page would be refunded.

Cllr Collingwood told the Marlow Free Press he sympathised with Moya, saying: “The road safety schemes are based on the number of people killed or injured rather than animals.

“So at this stage I don't know it will rank.

“There is a barrier at the top of the path but it is not designed for animals.

“It will take time to work through the choices we have in terms of what we can do and how much it will cost.

“I don't know yet what those costs are. We have to see where the budgets can be spent.”

So far more than 380 people have signed the petition. Visit https://democracy.buckscc.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=7371&RPID=84724226&HPID=84724226.