THREE schools in Blythe Bridge are set to benefit from a high profile road safety scheme encouraging motorists to put the breaks on their speed.
Blythe Bridge High School and College, Cheadle Road, Forsbrook CE(VC) Primary School, Cheadle Road, and Springcroft Primary School, Grindley Lane, are among 17 more schools across Staffordshire which will soon benefit from the latest round of part-time 20 mph speed reductions as part of Staffordshire County Council’s 20 is plenty scheme.
The new permanent, part-time signs will be located outside schools and will flash when the 20 mph limit applies. The scheme is being rolled out to schools that are on the county’s busiest roads and follows a highly successful trial in the south of the county three years ago.
The following schools will also benefit from the initiative starting in mid March: Churchfield CE(VC) Primary School, Sandy Lane, Rugeley; Chancel Primary School Station Road, Rugeley; Reginald Mitchell Primary School, Congleton Road, Butt Lane, Knutton; St. Mary’s CE(VC) Primary School, Church Lane, Knutton; Littleton Green Community Primary School, Stafford Road, Huntington; Stapenhill Post 16 Centre, Stanton Road, Burton; Oldfields Hall Middle School, Stone Road, Uttoxeter; Shobnall Primary School, Shobnall Road, Burton; St Dominic’s Catholic Primary School, Station Road, Stone; Queen Elizabeth’s Mercian School, Ashby Road, Tamworth; The Croft Primary School, Rugeley Road, Armitage; Queen’s Croft High School, Birmingham Road, Lichfield; St John’s CE(VC) Primary School, Hobnock Road, Essington; Wolstanton High School, Milehouse Lane, Newcastle.
The 20 mph limits will be in operation during school run times to protect pupils, but ensure that traffic flows are unaffected when children are in class, and during school holidays.
County Councillor Mike Maryon, cabinet member for Highways and Transport, said: “Our speed reduction scheme has received overwhelming support from local communities since it was launched in 2010.
“Road safety is of paramount importance to the people of Staffordshire and the county council is constantly trialling new and innovative ways of making our highways even safer.
“This is all about changing driver behaviour and, in doing so, reducing accidents among some of the most vulnerable members of the community, our children.
“The part time speed reduction sites introduced in the county have been incredibly successful and have had a real impact on driver behaviour and we expect to see the same results at our new sites.
“We are determined to build on our excellent record of reducing the number of accidents on our roads and this high profile and effective campaign is just one way of achieving that goal.
“Staffordshire is already among the best counties in the UK for child road safety. It’s a position achieved through innovative road safety action, including the Walking Bus and Safer Routes to School programmes and a host of education and training projects.”
The zones will only be active from 8.15am to 9am and 2.45pm to 4pm during school term time.
This protects children at crucial school times, but keeps the main transport arteries on the move throughout the rest of the day.
