Road safety programme finished

Mar 14 2008 by Katie Campling, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A £75,000 scheme to improve road safety in Ravensthorpe has been completed.

Kirklees Council’s highways department has been working to reduce accidents and slow traffic on Broomer Street.

Most of the accidents in the area happened between 3pm and 7pm and involved children under the age of 12.

The road safety improvements were developed with local residents, schools, councillors and the police.

As well as doing work on the road, the council’s road safety team has carried out training with children at Ravensthorpe Infant School.

More training is set to take place in April and the school has developed a travel plan to ensure children get safely to and from school.

Headteacher Linda Whittaker said she was pleased that measures had been taken to keep pupils safe.

“I have been worried about the number of children hurt on the roads around our school and I am very pleased that Kirklees Council is carrying out road safety measures.

“If traffic is going slower, children have more time to cross the roads. However, it is still important for the children to learn to cross the road in a safe way. As a school, we can only do so much. I hope that everyone in the local community will work together to reduce accidents.”

Highways have also launched a poster campaign – Please Slow Down And Keep Me Safe – on lamp posts.

Jacqui Gedman, head of highways, said: “Reducing accidents and keeping children safe is a top priority. This scheme is a great example of what can be achieved when local people become involved in helping to solve problems in their neighbourhood.”