Schools to benefit from new 20mph safety signs

Press release - 20 September 2007

Belvidere School in Shrewsbury and Christ Church CE Primary School in Cressage will be the first of a number of Shropshire schools to benefit from a new road safety initiative being piloted by Shropshire County Council.

New 20 mph advisory speed limit signs are to be installed on the approaches to each school. The schools have been working with the council to put into action School Travel Plans to address concerns over speed of vehicles outside their school gates.

The large signs will include the school’s name, a school warning sign and winning art work designed by the students at each school.

The new signs will support both the school and the council’s objectives to improve road safety and encourage more families to walk into school – in the interests of health and the environment.

More schools are set be included in the pilot and traffic engineers will monitor traffic speeds before and after the introduction of the signs to monitor the effectiveness of the initiative.

John Everall, Shropshire County Council’s Cabinet member for environment and sustainability, said: “These highly visible signs will provide passing drivers with an awareness of the existence of a school and make it feel a safer and more pleasant environment for children and all visitors to the school.

“We have already included children’s artwork on school signs outside other schools such as The Marches and Trefonen CE Primary School and have established guidelines and competition rules we can apply”.

If the pilot scheme is successful, opportunities to implement further signs at other school locations will be considered in the future.

Ends

For further information, call Ray Hughes or Julie Potter, School Travel Plan Advisors on (01743) 253137 or (01743) 253001.
For media contact, call Laura Owen, Communications Officer, Economy & Environment on (01743) 253318.