20mph trial at school welcomed

By lee wagstaff newsdesk@thepostandtimes.co.uk

PARENTS and teachers have welcomed plans to introduce a 20mph limit on an accident-plagued road outside a school in the town.

Oldfields Hall Middle School, in Stone Road, Uttoxeter, has been chosen as one of 16 locations across Staffordshire which will trial electronic speed indicating devices from September.

Staffordshire County Council has made the announcement after a three-year campaign which was launched following a crash involving a pupil.

Headteacher Nick Brown admitted he was delighted at the decision. He said: "It is fantastic news. It is a wonderful idea to put measures in place to make drivers aware of how fast they are going.

"It is something ourselves and all the other headteachers in the area have campaigned for since the little girl was hit on her way home. It is a very busy road with four schools operating within a short distance of each other and we all finish at around the same time, so it gets quite congested.

"I would like to thank Councillor Geoff Morrison in particular because he has been firmly behind making the area safer for our students."

Julie Watkin picks up her daughter Hannah, who is in Year 6, every school day. The 41-year-old, from Uttoxeter, said: "It is definitely overdue in my opinion. The road here is so dangerous and the pavements are narrow, so it is vital for motorists to slow down.

"Young children quite often don't recognise the dangers and can stray into the road."

Ian Bloor, whose son Marcus is in Year 6, agreed that action was necessary on Stone Road where it merges into Bramshall Road.

The 35-year-old, from Uttoxeter, said: "It is a really good idea. I have noticed the flashing signs on other roads and they seem very effective.

"I think they will be great at reducing speeding motorists along this dangerous road." Lollipop man Tony Foster has one of the most difficult tasks in town, as he guides children across the busy junction between Stone Road and Bramshall Road.

The 70-year-old, who is due to retire in September, said: "I have been working this spot for 13 years now and it is a very bad road. I have heard many rumours of attempts to make the road safer including a crossing at the top of Stone Road and cameras being installed in our lollipop sticks. This is a very good idea to try and calm down drivers who often hurtle down here far too fast."

Councillor Geoff Morrison, who represents the area that Oldfields Middle School falls into, added: "The 20mph zones will help to change driver behaviour which will have a big impact on our roads."

The speed indicating devices will remain in place between September and Christmas before being relocated to the next 16 schools.

They will operate during school run times to protect pupils, but ensure that traffic flows are unaffected when children are in class, and during school holidays.

The council also selected Hutchinson Memorial First School, in Uttoxeter Road, Checkley, in the first wave.

Councillor Mike Maryon, cabinet member for highways and road safety, said: "Ideally, I would like to roll this system out across the entire county straight away but we have more than 400 schools and are facing incredibly challenging financial times."