No need for a crossing near school says council
NEARLY 9,000 people have called for a crossing outside a school, while three councillors have pledged to find the necessary funding – but the highways authority will not approve it.
Leicestershire County Council said the crossing near St Peter’s Catholic Primary, Hinckley, does not meet nationally-set criteria.
Concerns have been raised for many years over the safety of pupils when they cross London Road after a number of near misses were recorded.
Parents launched a campaign for a pedestrian crossing, with a petition gaining nearly 9,000 signatures.
One mum from St Peter’s said last year that her son was seconds away from being hit by a car at the spot where a crossing is wanted. She believed the driver was speeding.
Members of the county council’s highways and transport scrutiny committee discussed the crossing earlier this month.
Highways officer Janna Walker said the council had used an industry standard way of assessing whether or not the area needs a crossing.
Accident numbers and vehicle speeds in the area have also been surveyed by the council, using information validated by the police. No injuries have been recorded outside the school during drop off and pick up times, according to the council, and there is no “immediate concern.”
PARENTS ARE CAMPAIGNING FOR SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS
The surveys will be carried out again in June, while plans for a school crossing patrol are in motion.
Ms Walker said several road safety features are in place outside the school.
She said: “There are waiting restrictions, mandatory ‘school, keep clear’ markings, vehicle activated signs, a school safety zone 20mph area and an uncontrolled crossing point outside the school with tactile paving.”
Three county councillors, David Bill, Stuart Bray and Michael Mullaney, have previously offered to combine their annual roads budget of £25,000 each towards a crossing.
Councillors are allowed to designate money to fund highways projects they think are necessary in their wards and this crossing is expected to cost about £40,000.
But highway officers have said that funding is not the determining factor.