A BARNSLEY MP has backed a school’s plea to improve road safety - after pupils raised their concerns over speeding vehicles due to a series of narrow misses with traffic.
Marie Tidball, who represents the Penistone and Stocksbridge constituency, visited Cawthorne Primary before the Christmas holiday to meet with its school council representatives to discuss their concerns about road safety in the village and how they are raising awareness about it.
They were accompanied by its headteacher, Adam Bramall, Cawthorne Parish Council’s John Walker and Margaret Broadhead, and governor Roger Nelson.
Youngsters told Ms Tidball about their dangerous driving concerns in the village, including speeding, idling cars and problematic parking.
They informed her of their efforts to raise awareness about road safety both within the school community and beyond the school gates.
Marie said: “It was wonderful to visit Cawthorne Primary School to meet their fantastic council to discuss their road safety campaign.
“The pupils shared some excellent ideas about how to raise awareness about dangerous driving and some potential solutions, including implementing double yellow lines and a temporary 20mph limit near the school during drop-offs and pick-ups.
“This would be consistent with measures taken outside local schools in Thurgoland and Penistone and I’ll be working with the pupils, the local parish council and Barnsley Council to see how we can take these things forward.
“Pupils have also designed road signs that encourage drivers in Cawthorne to slow down.
“Last year, the pupils took part in a speed camera initiative with the police, to encourage drivers to change their driving habits.
“I will write to the local authority to ask for them to introduce a 20mph zone and double yellow lines on the corners of some of the key roads near the school.”
Barnsley Council’s highways department committed to a scheme to assess all schools sited on main roads in the borough to see if 20mph zones could be introduced to slow down traffic.
Highways bosses are also considering additional installations should there be a specific safety issue in the vicinity of a particular primary school.
Mr Bramall added: “We aim for our children to shine bright and become courageous advocates for the causes that resonate deeply with them.
“The issue with traffic around our village is a real concern for our community particularly speeding vehicles and dangerous parking.
“Our school council have worked incredibly hard in conjunction with our governors and parish council to drive their safety campaign and make positive changes around our village.
“We are incredibly grateful that Marie visited school to listen to our progress and to offer valuable suggestions.
“Her support for 20mph speed limits around schools is something that our children, governors and parish council all agreed on and we are excited to see where our safety campaign will lead us next with her backing.”
