Telford & Wrekin Council road safety officer Sally Potts with Councillor Veronica Fletcher, Mandy Ward, Redhill Primary deputy head, and pupils Mia Jones and Nihal Dhillon, both aged seven
Pupils arriving at a Telford school will be able to get there more safely thanks to a £77,000 road safety scheme which features a new puffin crossing as well as bollards, waiting restrictions and speed humps.
It is aimed at providing a safer environment for Redhill Primary School pupils and people living in the area. The school developed a travel plan over the last 12 months and a number of initiatives have been introduced.
The aim is to encourage more walking and cycling to school. Initiatives have included a walking bus from Lakeside Nursery, Year Six pupils taking part in cycle training, the first Bikeability course in Telford taking place at the school and the new crossing.
The crossing was built on Castle Farm Way using funding from the Government as part of the Redhill Safer Routes to School project. In addition, the construction of a safe school zone on Gatcombe Way will start during February.
Proposals include the introduction of waiting restrictions and speed humps at Gatcombe Way, installation of cast iron bollards along the grass verges in front of the school and at the school entrance and a system of hatched lining at the turning point in Colliford Close.
Councillor Miles Hosken, cabinet member for the environment, said: “The scheme will make the whole area a safer place to walk and travel in, make it easier for everyone to access the school and help to prevent a build up of traffic outside the school at busy times.”
Pupils from the school will be taking part in a “design a sign” competition and the winners’ artwork will be featured on safe school signs.
Telford & Wrekin Council’s Safer Route To School programme applies to all schools in the borough.
Work is due to start on the safe school zone during the half term beginning February 16 and are anticipated to last one week.
• A puffin crossing is similar to a pelican crossing but has a sensor that keeps traffic signals on red while someone crosses. It will not allow the lights to change if a ped-estrian presses the button and walks away. Puffin crossings do not have the flashing green man that warns the lights are about to change.
By Peter Johnson
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