Call for road signs to ensure pupil's safety (From Gazette Series)

Call for road signs to ensure pupil's safety

SPEEDING traffic outside a small Severnside primary school is putting the children at risk and the community is calling for better road signs.

In June the town's Police Community Support Officer Mike Trebble spent two days at Berkeley Primary School looking at the road markings and monitoring traffic passing the Marybrook Street site.

PCSO Trebble told the Gazette this week: "It has been a problem for a couple of years but nothing has been done about it. The school have tried to get things done but they haven't had any joy.

"It is very dangerous as it is. There is a blind bend and people speed around the corner and they suddenly realise there is a lollypop lady.

"Cars just speed past the school. There are no adequate road markings and signs - there is just one at either end of the road and motorists don't see them.

"I would like to see some proper flashing lights on a school sign, that are switched on at the appropriate times by the lollypop lady. I would also like to see markings on the road to make drivers aware of the school.

"A representative from Gloucestershire County Council has agreed to come and review the situation and they seem quite keen to come out before the end of term. They have said that these things won't happen overnight but we should get something by the start of the next school year in September, which would be ideal."

PCSO Trebble added: "This is a step in the right direction to getting something done."

Headteacher Martin Bragg agreed that warning signs should be installed. "It is definitely something that we need", said Mr Bragg.

"The situation needs to be improved because there is nothing there. Traffic speeding past the school is something that has been a concern on a number of occasions. The signs are needed to warn people that they are approaching a school.

"I think we need warning signs and flashing lights and a lower speed limit is something that could also be looked at. I don't know when it is practical to have these things installed but really it needs doing as soon as possible."