LETTER: I am a parent of two children who attend Captain Webb School in Dawley. I, as a parent, would like more done to improve road safety in Pool Hill Road.
Every morning impatient drivers are just mounting the kerbs along what is a narrow road. Drivers don’t care about the children and adults walking along the footpaths.
Many drivers have just missed my children’s ankles as they have been too impatient to wait and have mounted the kerb.
I have seen a taxi driver swearing because people wouldn’t move out of the way and he couldn’t get past, as my children were walking on the footpath. He wanted us to move.
What example is this to children? Drivers should be patient.
I feel that Pool Hill should be made into a one way system for everyone’s safety, especially on the school run.
I hope other parents of children at Captain Webb in Dawley feel the same. I am willing to get a petition up to make it safe for our children going to school.
Name and address supplied
9 Comments
Why haven’t you complained to you local parish labour councillor of these concerns, as he is a member of the governing body of the school your child attends.
Why are drivers mounting the kerbs? Is the road really that narrow for this to be necessary?
I was a part of a working group who submitted a bid which has gone to the Borough Council through the Safer Routes to School program. I have also raised this issue with Dawley Maga councillor Vic Tonks last year, who has raised the issue with the council from residents prospective. I await the decision of the Borough Council over the next few weeks. I do agree with the writer of the letter that something must be done.
I understand the school will open a new dialogue with parents over the coming days on this issue.
Shaun Davies –
“The Labour Parish Councillor, who is a member of the governing body” referred to by ‘bobby barnet‘
I am already investigating this situation as it was brought up at the PACT ‘Police and Communities Together’, meeting in Horsehay, it is a real problem.
There is a Secondary School, Primary School, Nursery and Youth Club all in the same area. At finishing time it becomes a nightmare. The Police are aware of the problem and we are working together towards a resolution.
I was there on friday speaking to residents and parents along with a council officer. Photographs have been taken and i am waiting for some feedback from the council on possible ways to help decrease this problem.
I will be at the next PACT meeting on 13th May 2008 from 1830 at Horsehay Village Hall, where i should have an update on the issues being experienced.
Its the same around Shrewbury drivers going to fast near school grounds, why not put a 20mph limit near schools and put the raised sections by junctions (not speed bumps)and along the longer straights? Or will we have to wait for a fatality before anything is done.
The problem of traffic around schools,particularly at the final bell, is almost nationwide. Lives are already being lost through driver impatience and an apparent total refusal to abide by the Highway Code. This is a problem for all councils and really needs our urgent attention. Perhaps some consideration could be given to maybe not allow parents to use their cars for distances of less than a mile to deliver children to school. I would be interested to hear other peoples views and recommendations. My colleague Cllr.Helen Williams’ suggestion to attend the Pact meeting at Horsehay Village Hall on 13th May might result in getting something really positive started.
Use of Vehicles outside schools is problematic across the Town of Telford and nation wide.
Everyone should exercise a little restraint and patience it is only half an hour each morning and afternoon and only during term time.
Safe Routes To School is not a new initiative,it is an old idea lacking innovation, walking buses are effective until people get bored with supervising, if people don’t want to change their school drop off/pick up routine realistically it is up to them.
As a parent I am increasingly resentful of being targeted by uninformed school governing bodies.
The point that many people miss in the school run debate, is that it is not just the journey to the school that needs to be factored in but the time it would take to do that journey without using a car, at a time when most parents will also be under pressure to get to work.
I think the answer lies in more flexible start times at schools, and in enforced flexibility by employers. We work the longest hours in Europe, and have some of the least flexible working arrangements.
Most employers these days demand significant unpaid overtime from their employees, and profit handsomely from that free labour. The TUC estimates that on average workers give up to 3 months work per year for nothing. At a time when salaries are also being squeezed we need to be pushing for more flexible working arrangements to help with problems such as these.
Typical Shaun, you agree something must be done . Why don’t you actually propose a sensible resolution to this issue? Platitudes are insignificant to the welfare of children that as a governor of this school you should be aware that staff have a duty to act towards under common law of LOCO PARENTIS.