MP backs call for road safety (From The Oxford Times)

MP backs call for road safety

7:00am Friday 6th July 2012 in Didcot By Andrew Ffrench, covering Didcot and Wallingford. Call me on 01865 425425

DIDCOT MP Ed Vaizey wants to see improved safety measures for pupils at a town primary school.

Mr Vaizey, Conservative MP for Didcot and Wantage, visited Ladygrove Park Primary School in Avon Way to see how well traffic calming measures are working outside the school gates.

The culture minister said: “When I was at the school I also saw just how difficult it is for children to cross the road safely when leaving or entering the site.

“In the 15 minutes or so that I was at the school gate, a large number of vehicles, from cars and an ice-cream van to heavy goods vehicles went past, and not all were driving as slowly as they should have been.”

After the visit last week he added: “It seems clear to me that a proper crossing or perhaps a ‘lollipop’ crossing attendant is needed if children are to be able to get safely to and from school.”

The school for 420 pupils is on the corner of Tyne Avenue and Avon Way and headteacher David Burrows said parents wanted a new crossing in each street.

At the moment, parents have to rely on two speed humps near the entrances to the school in Tyne Avenue and Avon Way to show down motorists. Mr Burrows said: “Many drivers are kind enough to stop for parents and their children but they are not obliged to do so.

“Zebra crossings, one in Avon Way and one in Tyne Avenue, would be a big improvement because it would remove any ambiguity.

“Parents and children are not sure if they are safe to cross or not.

“There have been a number of near-misses close to the school but fortunately there have not been any accidents.

“However, that probably means that zebra crossings here would not be a priority for county council funding.”

County councillor for Ladygrove Bill Service said: “The speed humps were installed about four or five years ago after a pupil ran out between two parked cars and nearly got knocked down.

“However, now there has been a call for zebra crossings I am quite happy to have a look at this issue again.”