TWO mums are campaigning for a zebra crossing outside their children’s school after two youngsters were hit by cars in the first week of term.
Rebecca Curtis and Esther McCarthy presented a petition with more than 100 signatures to councillors demanding the installation of a zebra crossing or other “adequate road safety measures”.
Ms Curtis told councillors: “Our petition is signed by over 100 local residents and calls for Torfaen Borough Council to reconsider and reassess the need for a zebra crossing after the incidents that occurred in the first week of the school term.
“Two children were involved in road incidents by Blaenavon school.”
A nine-year-old boy required hospital treatment after being struck by a car on Middle Coedcae Road in September and parents reported it was the second such incident in the same day.
‘Speed of vehicles’
Blaenavon Heritage School is on the road and Ms Curtis said it has two entrances and said: “They do not provide safe access due to the speed of vehicles, inappropriate parking such as on double yellow lines, over residents’ driveways and using the Arthur Jenkins care home as a car park.”
Due to the amount of traffic and inappropriate parking she said children “just aren’t being seen” with the entrance for the nursery in use between school opening and closing times and said the 20 mile per hour limit also doesn’t eliminate the risk.
“Children of this age have no concept of road safety and are at a higher risk of being struck by cars and even at 20 miles per hour, because of their height and position, the cars will strike them and their fragility, developing anatomy.”
She said the other access is also used after school hours for the multi-use games area and said: “As the winter nights draw in, visibility is reduced and there is just no safe place to cross the road.”
Ms Curtis said a safe access for children and parents is “essential” and said: “If we are going to promote health and wellbeing and walking to school then no child should feel anxious about walking to school.”
The full council agreed to accept the petition and it will be sent to the cabinet member responsible for a response.