Hedgehog helps open safer route to school

Spike the hedgehog, the Department for Transport’s road safety mascot, helped to open a new refuge and school warning system on Bridgnorth Road in Highley earlier last week (Wednesday 20 February).

This Safer Routes to School scheme was officially opened by Councillor John Everall, Shropshire County Council's Cabinet member for environment and sustainability, with help from Spike and some pupils from Highley Primary School.

The County Council funded the construction of the refuge, the flashing warning lights and dropped kerbs on Willow Drive as part of its work with Highley Primary School on creating a safer route to the school.

John Everall, Shropshire County Council’s Cabinet member for environment and sustainability, said: “I would like to congratulate the school for their hard work on a range of sustainable travel initiatives. We hope that these new facilities will encourage more people to walk to the school.”

Parents, pupils and staff at Highley Primary School have been involved in identifying ways to encourage more walking and cycling to school and adopted a School Travel Plan in 2004. One of the issues that came out of this travel plan process was pedestrian safety when crossing Bridgnorth Road near the school.

25 February 2008