A NATIONWIDE campaign is calling for more 20mph limits in local communities, particularly on the roads around schools and it is being backed by schools in the Westbury area.
Launched by road safety charity Brake, the GO 20 campaign wants children to be able to walk to school without fear or threat from fast traffic.
It is calling on government and local authorities to implement 20mph limits in towns and villages, alongside other measures such as safe pavements, paths, and crossings.
Jan Ball, headteacher at Westbury Infants School said, “20 mile speed limits can only be for the good. Eden Vale Road is a busy road, particularly at the beginning and end of the day, and the governors at Westbury Infant School would support an introduction of speed limits.
“The greatest threat to the safety of our children is the ‘unadopted’ drive down to the school. We ask parents not to use the drive but many do not comply. The drive also is used by the Children’s Centre, Bright Stars Nursery, the Youth Centre and parents collecting and dropping off for Westbury Junior School. Parents park on the pavements, heedless of pedestrians, they also park in front of our emergency exits.
“Despite our best efforts we have been unable to resolve this as legally the drive is unadopted. The governors are concerned about the safety of the children, particularly at the beginning and end of the school day.”
David Ross, headteacher of Bitham Brook Primary School said, “The school is situated in a cul-de-sac in a residential area, with cars parked either side of the road. Things get fairly busy at the beginning and the end of the day. The speed limit is not really the issue for our school, it is more due to traffic congestion and parking.
“However I would strongly support a 20 mph limit outside any school, particularly at the start and the end of the day. Cars move very quickly along Bitham Park which many of our children have to cross and I would welcome a 20 mph speed limit at the start and end of the school day. I think this would help to raise awareness for drivers that there are children crossing the road.”
Springfield Road acts as a natural speed restrictor for students at Matravers, with parked cars and students walking along the edge. However, deputy headteacher Richard Haupt said he would welcome 20mph limits around the school.
Chapmanslade School is situated on the A3098, the main route from Westbury to Frome. Berkeley Basinger-Adams, headteacher, says he would like to see 20mph limits outside the school, and the local community group is very active in conducting speed checks and discussing the issue. He said, “I do feel a 20mph speed limit outside of our school is important for the safety of the children before and after school.
“Our parents and staff are fantastic, they drive and park with great care and consideration for other users, pedestrians and children. However, the village road is used as a ‘rat-run’ short cut by businesses and individuals and, as such, is a very busy road.
“I would be keen to support any action that would make the road even safer for children outside of our school, that would enable parent drop-off and collection easier, and that would ease the parking congestion problems for our neighbours.”
A recent survey by the charity Brake, and Hampson Hughes solicitors, of 500 UK primary schools reveals teachers are deeply concerned about pupils’ ability to walk or cycle to school safely. Nine in ten schools (92%) think local roads need to be made safer for children to walk and cycle and eight in 10 (81%) want 20mph limits around the school and on routes connecting the school with local homes. Only one in 10 schools (12%) say they already have 20mph limits.
Julie Townsend, Brake’s deputy chief executive said, “One of the best ways to protect kids on foot and bike is to slow maximum traffic speeds to 20mph around homes, schools and shops, to create a safe haven for walking and cycling. ‘GOing 20’ makes our communities nicer places to be, enables people of all ages to get out and about on foot and bike, improves health, and saves lives. We are appealing to government, local authorities and drivers around the UK to put children’s safety and wellbeing first, and GO 20.”
