COUNCIL chiefs have confirmed a pedestrian crossing will be introduced on the busy road outside a city primary school after an impassioned plea to tackle the problem.
Worcestershire County Council cabinet member for Communities Coun Lucy Hodgson announced the news after a question about the situation by Labour councillor for Rainbow Hill Coun Paul Denham.
The former Mayor of Worcester pointed out two school crossing patrols outside St Barnabas and Stanley Road Primary schools had retired last year and had yet to be replaced.
“The Road Safety (Education and Schools) Team Leader has stated in writing on December 4 ‘the St Barnabas School site has failed a risk assessment for future provision of a patrol at this location.
“This is mainly due to the volume of vehicles not stopping and the duty of care for any individual we were to place in the live carriageway.
“Is the cabinet member with responsibility prepared to risk potential injuries to young children attempting to cross a busy road where it is deemed to be too great a risk to employ an adult crossing patrol?”
In response, Coun Hodgson said the county council provided more than 50 school crossing patrols across Worcestershire and even when a crossing patrol was in use, road safety remained in the hads of parents and guardian to ensure children get to school safely.
“The long term plan for St Barnabas is to have a pedestrian crossing installed within the next year. This will mean the site no longer meets the criteria for a school crossing patrol. Meanwhile the post to replace the school crossing attendant has been republished.
“We have spoken to the school and they are signed up to road safety education training. The needs at Stanley Road are being re-evaluated and once I have received the results I will share them with Coun Denham.”
Coun Denham said he was delighted with the news but said it was a pity the crossing could not be introduced quicker.
Coun Hodgson responded and said: “Crossing patrols are there to help children and parents across. There is a responsibility on the parent to be aware of what is happening on the road.
“I would love the crossing to be installed tomorrow just as there are other areas in the county. It’s a difficult one. We try and provide the service we can but we rely on recruitment.”
