School gets its crossing after two-year battle
‘A long process’, but pupils can finally get across road safely
A new zebra crossing has been unveiled at a Maidstone primary school after safety issues were highlighted by pupils.
Brunswick House Primary School, just off London Road in Leafy Lane, has been plagued by traffic and parking issues in recent years.
Deputy head Samantha Barnett said the need for the £10,000 crossing was made clear after several near misses, with children, aged four to 11, nearly run over as they walked to school.
Last year a petition for the crossing was signed more than 700 times, while pupils spent a week last October campaigning on the issue.
Cllr Dan Daley, county councillor for Maidstone, who has previously spoken to youngsters about their fears, said: “It has been a long process. The school has wanted a crossing for more than two years and it has been a combined effort.
“In the end Cllr Rob Bird and I discovered we could get some money out of our highways funds for community projects, while the school’s Parent Teacher Association chipped in a quarter of the substantial cost.
“It was a combined effort and everyone is delighted with the outcome. Hopefully it will make the whole thing a whole lot safer for Brunswick House’s pupils and also students from MGGS and Maplesden Noakes.
“The primary children have been fully involved through their school council and it has been absolutely wonderful to watch.”
In the past many parents have dropped their children off at the London Road Retail Park, which is just across the road from the school, as safe parking spaces are hard to come by.
That arrangement was an informal one between the school and the site’s previous owners Cushman and Wakefield, however a similar deal is yet to be made with Bilfinger GVA, which took over in July.
Negotiations are ongoing and parking is yet to be actively enforced at the beginning and end of the school day.