School plan aims to cut traffic speeds and congestion

A primary school is seeking a lower speed limit and measures to reduce congestion on roads around the school.

Shaw CE Primary School has been consulting staff, governors, parents and local residents as it develops a new travel plan aimed at improving safety around the school. A meeting was held recently to discuss the issues.

School governor Sue Evans said, “The aim is to reduce congestion around the school and reduce speed limits.

“Locally, most of the schools have a 20mph limit outside but ours doesn’t. We have got an awful lot of children that walk from George Ward Gardens, 51 this year. The road is 40mph and it is too fast.

“The overriding concerns are speed, traffic flow and people illegally parking on the road outside the school.

“It has always been tricky and I think it is getting worse because you have got increased traffic. You have also got Cleveland Bridge in Bath that the really heavy lorries can’t go over. I don’t know where the diversion goes but it comes through here.

“Vehicles are also getting bigger and faster.”

Sue said the school has also been introducing various measures to improve traffic flow, including encouraging people to park more sensibly and having designated drop-off points.

MP Brian Mathew attended a meeting at the school and has written to Wiltshire Council in support of the initiative.

The school is reviewing responses to the consultation and preparing the next phase of its travel plan.

Pictured: Shaw Primary School headteacher Amy Edwards with school governor Sue Evans