New 20mph limit and flashing signs after boy knocked down by motorist
WARNING signs will be placed on a stretch of road where a nine-year-old boy was hit by a car.
Flashing 20mph speed limit signs will be put up near Ysgol yr Hendre on the busy Llanbeblig Road in Caernarfon following calls from campaigners.
The calls were sparked after Sam Stuhlfelder, a pupil at Ysgol yr Hendre, was taken to hospital after he was hit by a vehicle near to the entrance of the school in February.
He was walking home with classmates near the school when he stepped into 30mph Llanbeblig Road and was hit, suffering a broken leg, bruises and grazes.
Now Gwynedd Council have confirmed the speed warning signs will be put in place to cover the junction to the school and the crossing in the next week or so.
There will be flashing lights on the signs to urge motorists to be aware of their speed during the school’s opening and closing times.
Gwynedd county councillor Roy Owen, who has been calling for 20mph signage to be installed for a while, welcomed the decision.
Cllr Owen said: “These signs are for the safety of the children after the boy was hit.
“We are trying to make it as safe as possibly.
“This is great, as I have been doing a few weeks as a lollipop person while we were waiting for this news.
“I hope that the signs will help and I am confident that they will.”
However, Sam Stuhlfelder’s grandmother, Elizabeth Taylor, said the plans did not go far enough and called for a crossing patrol outside the school.
Ms Taylor said: “I know Cllr Roy Owen has worked hard to get these signs and I thank him for this as he’s been fantastic. I should imagine they will help but I still think it should be manned as kids will still walk out into the road.
“There should be a lollipop person there outside the school, as parents are allowing children much younger than Sam to walk to school.
“Will it take a child to be killed for the council to do something about it?”
A Gwynedd Council spokesperson added: “After assessing the site, the council’s Transportation and Street Care Service has agreed to the introduction of 20mph signage along part of Llanbeblig Road.
“The signage is due to be installed in the coming week or so.”