Charlbury Primary School Needs a School Crossing
Anyone who regularly crosses The Slade knows that the steady increase in traffic flow over the years has made this road the busiest in Charlbury. The Slade has long been used as a thoroughfare for both commercial and private vehicles between Chipping Norton and Witney.
More recently, increased residential development in Charlbury has added to the steady flow and the number of motorists exceeding the 30 mph limit on The Slade has made crossing The Slade even riskier for pedestrians.
The closest legal crossing is a half-mile from the primary school entrance. The school has had to rely on a patrol person to ferry children across the busy corner directly in front of the school.
Unfortunately, this is only possible in the mornings and afternoons for twenty minutes at a time. Children who are late to school for medical appointments or wish to attend after school activities including the regular after school 3’clock club, must rely on their parents or staff to escort them across The Slade or be dropped off and picked up by car,
The Oxford County Council has responded to parents concerned with having a safe crossing that there are many such problem areas in Oxfordshire that have actually accrued casualties and thus have been given priority for school crossings.
No one wants to wait for a serious accident to occur to any of our children or any pedestrian before taking preventive action. Therefore, a proposal has been made to the Oxfordshire County Council to implement a proper school crossing on The Slade directly in front of the primary school that will provide a safe right of way to students and pedestrians trying to cross the road during school term before, during and after school hours.
The congestion and speed problem on The Slade is growing and is obvious to anyone who regularly walks their children to school. The frequency of near misses has also increased with an alarming number of motorists barely able (or willing), to come to a full safe stop during the rush hours even when the patrol person is on duty.
If you would like to add your voice of support to this initiative by parents and some governors at Charlbury Primary School, the time to write is now:
Contact local county councillor Sue Haffenden sue.haffenden@oxfordshire.gov.uk and Highways Officer Paul Wilson paul.wilson@oxfordshire.gov.uk directly and express your concerns and your desire for a safe pedestrian school crossing on The Slade for Charlbury Primary School
Let’s not regret what could have been when tragedy can still be averted.
Igor Goldkind · Tue 22 Jan 2008, 10:34 · Link