A PUFFIN has landed at Radbrook Primary School

Press release - 20 September 2007

A new PUFFIN crossing, built to make the journey safer to Radbrook Primary School, is set to be officially opened tomorrow (Friday 21 September).

John Everall, Shropshire County Council’s Cabinet member for environment and sustainability, will open the crossing on Bank Farm Road in Shrewsbury at 2pm.

Shropshire County Council has funded the installation of the new crossing as part of its ‘Safer Routes to School’ work with the primary school.

The council has been working with the school to look at ways to encourage more walking and cycling to school and to improve safety on the school journey.

Parents, pupils and staff at the school have been involved in identifying ways to encourage more walking and cycling to school through their School Travel Plan and highlighted the problems of crossing Bank Farm Road.

The crossing will improve the safety of school pupils crossing Bank Farm Road and the large number of pedestrians that already cross in this location to access to the Radbrook Green Shopping Centre.

The main difference between a PUFFIN crossing and a pelican crossing is that the PUFFIN can sense when somebody is waiting to cross the road and also gives pedestrians extra time to cross if they need it.

John Everall, Shropshire County Council’s Cabinet member for environment and sustainability, said: “Working closely with the school has enabled us to effectively address the concerns of those crossing this busy road and we hope that this will encourage more and more pupils to walk or cycle to school”.

Mike Owen, Local member for Meole Brace, also attending the event, said: “This is a great facility for school pupils and members of the public to use.”

Others invited to the event include the Head Teacher of Radbrook Primary School, pupil representatives and the School Travel Working Group.

Ends

For further information, call Victoria Merrill, Transport Planner, on (01743) 253139.
For media contact, call Laura Owen, Communications Officer, Economy & Environment on (01743) 253318.