Families backing campaign to cut drivers’ speeds near schools
They are calling for the speed limit to be cut from 40mph to 30mph, along with an improved walking route for youngsters.
Endon with Stanley Parish Council drew up a ‘wish list’ of improvements for the road, including a new footpath near the junction with Edge Lane to help pupils cross. Community leaders are also asking for improved signs to help slow motorists down.
Now a petition calling for a reduced speed limit and safety measures has more than 300 signatures.
Organiser Geoff Blood has lived in Clay Lake for 35 years and started the petition after seeing children struggle to cross the road. He said: “I live at the top of Clay Lake and my grandchildren are both pupils at Endon High School. When they are crossing the road I am in dreadful fear of them getting knocked down.
“Sometimes it would take them up to five minutes to cross. I’ve seen other children having some problems coming from Brown Edge because of the speed at which the cars are coming around and the large trucks – it’s frightening.
“That’s why I want to help the children to cross safely. They don’t have experience and some have headphones in and are chatting.
“I see near-misses on regular occasions. The problem is traffic has absolutely accelerated in the last five years. I stopped a lorry driver one day and he said it’s because of the congestion on the main roads, so using Clay Lake makes it quicker and saves time.
“So what was a quiet road years ago is a major thoroughfare now. It’s far better to be proactive, than waiting for an accident to happen.”
Mr Blood set up the petition with parents Helen Bradshaw and Angela Berrisford, who has two children at Endon High School.
The 38-year-old, of Brown Edge, who works for Network Rail, said: “We all know if you are hit by a car going at 40mph you’re dead, and we’re expecting kids to cross the road on a 40mph blind bend. You’re expected to walk your children to school but that doesn’t make it any safer, it just means we’ll all be killed because we can’t see around the blind bend. Someone is going to die, before any action is taken.”
Parents have asked Staffordshire County Council to carry out a safe walking route assessment. The authority says it is looking into improving road safety in the area.
Cabinet member Helen Fisher said: “We do listen to residents and work with local communities when there are issues affecting their neighbourhood.
“County councillor Keith Flunder and the parish council are exploring options to improve road safety in the area.
“These proposals will be presented to highways officers for their consideration.”
Fellow cabinet member Philip White said the route will be reviewed in the near future.