Anger as danger road by school not made safer
Campaigners fighting for extra safety measures outside a school are still waiting – more than a year after a serious accident.
Charan Singh, eight, broke his thigh when he was dragged under the wheels of a double-decker bus while walking to Linden Primary School, in Evington, Leicester, in December 2011.
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PICTURE: will johnston
Although the bus driver was found not to be at fault, concerned residents in Headland Road, opposite the school, launched a petition to demand road safety improvements by the city council.
More than 1,000 people signed the petition and Leicester East MP Keith Vaz supported the campaign, alongside Linden Primary School's head teacher, Zaheer Mohamed.
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Speaking after the accident, Councillor Rory Palmer, the city's assistant mayor who had responsibility for transport, said the authority would simplify the road markings outside the school and install signs and flashing lights.
However, nothing has been done so far.
Carrie Adams, who lives opposite the school and was responsible for spearheading the petition, said: "It's utterly ridiculous that more than a year after this serious accident happened, nothing's been done – despite promises from the city council.
"It makes you wonder if it will take another accident before action is taken.
"There are no signs warning drivers about their speed in Headland Road coming up to the school and the zigzag lines outside the entrance have faded and need to be repainted and extended along the road.
"If anything, the situation has got worse because further up the road construction on some flats is taking place, adding to traffic issues with more heavy goods vehicles.
"There's also been a new intake of children starting at the school and their parents need reminding of parking and road issues when they drop them off and pick them up.
"Road safety needs to be constantly enforced."
Mr Vaz said he was urging the council to take immediate action.
He said: "I remain very concerned about the incident outside Linden Primary. The council pledged it would take action and I'll be seeking assurances that this is the case."
A city council spokesman said: "We're completing a range of the measures we agreed last summer, including improvements to warning signs, cutting back trees to make the signs more visible and running a number of road safety initiatives for pupils, as well as police and parking attendant enforcement.
"During the Easter holidays, we are also due to start work on tidying up the zigzag markings outside the school.
"Although Linden School wasn't included in the 20mph zone area at the time, we are due to discuss later this year whether work can be brought forward on it."
4 Comments
by Graham_LE8
Thursday, February 28 2013, 12:38PM
“The answer is very simple - engage a patrolling tow truck to randomly visit city and county schools at drop-off and pick-up times, and tow away any vehicle in contravention of the stipulated regulations or causing an obstruction.
You'd be amazed how soon word would get round and the problem diminish before your very eyes...”
by PLYMFOX01
Thursday, February 28 2013, 10:05AM
“Why not make those people who park irresponsibley outside the schools pay for the improvements instead of all the council taxpayers?”
by freakspider
Thursday, February 28 2013, 9:37AM
“Agreed on all points there @Ivan, it IS the behavior of the motorists, and also some pedestrians crossing unsafely that is mainly responsible, but with Linden Primary School, they regularly park their own mini-buses and coach/bus hire vehicles on the zig zags directly at the main school gate, how can they expect other motorists to comply with parking and driving restrictions when they themselves do not?”
by IvanTheGreat
Thursday, February 28 2013, 8:08AM
“To be fair to the council it's not their fault that parents choose to ignore the laws of the highway. A lot of parents seem to think its ok to park on the zigzag lines, double yellows, over people's drives and on the bends which adds to the danger of having to drive in the opposite lane. This occurs at nearly every school I've had to travel past and Linden is one of them. My local school at end of day is also blighted by this problem. It's the same people (taxi drivers collecting there offspring) who think by parking on the corner, on double yellows is ok. I wonder if the councils private hire license department will love to have photographic proof of them?”