A BITTER campaign to improve road safety around two Huddersfield schools could be about to end.
Kirklees councillors are being urged to spend £33,000 for works to improve road safety outside Lindley Junior and Infant Schools, following a long-running campaign.
It could include a 20mph limit, new footpaths for children and a parking ban.
The concerns about road safety reached a head last year when angry parents blockaded a street.
Parents protested outside the schools blocking vehicles from entering George Street. This resulted in the police having to patrol the highway at the start and end of the school day for a number of months.
Now local councillors will ask the Huddersfield Area Committee to spend money for a package of improvements.
The latest proposals include:
Construction of new steps from George Street into the Junior School
Re-alignment of the kerbing around George Street and Whitteron Close
Widening of the footway outside the bungalows and installing a new ornamental fence
Introduction of a plateau at the junction of Whitteron Close and George Street
Implementation of a 20mph Zone
A further contribution of £35,000 is being allocated from Highway Safety budgets. However the scheme will require planning permission and as such the overall scheme cost and contribution needed may change subject to any planning conditions implemented during this process.
Lindley councillor Cahal Burke said: “The two Lindley schools have been troubled with parking problems for many years.
“I have made sure that the concerns of local residents and the school communities have been communicated to the council throughout the campaign and this has led to Highways Engineers coming forward with a range of proposals costing £68,000 in total to make the area around the two schools safer.
“No waiting / no loading restrictions at peak times have already been introduced to remove obstructive parking connected with local school traffic and allow enforcement in conjunction with ‘School Keep Clear’ markings at George Street.
“The proposed changes will also alleviate a major problem for those residents on Whitteron Close who struggle with access in and out of the area near their homes due to parents parking in the immediate vicinity of the school and pulling up and stopping on George Street to drop off children at school beginning and ending times.
“The safety of the young people and family members that are on foot in and around the school is of primary concern. This is always the message from the two Lindley schools and they do well in promoting walking to school and road safety, with regular correspondence to parents regarding this issue.”
