Oxon CE Primary School, Shrewsbury, produced a School Travel Plan in 2005. This identified a number of issues relating to pedestrian safety on Racecourse Lane and cycling to school.
Location
Oxon Primary School is located off Racecourse Lane, which is a narrow road with a speed limit of 30mph. There are no footways along the lane near the vehicle entrance to the school, making it difficult to walk from residential areas east of Shelton Hospital. However, the school is easily accessible from the west (Gains Park) via the network of cycle tracks and paths.
School travel initiatives
Working with Shropshire Council, the school has been able to provide cycle racks and promote cycling to school for the first time. The school has also set up ‘Park and Stride’ schemes to enable parents and pupils to park away from the school and walk short distances to it. There is ample parking available at The Grapes public house and Gains Park shops, and this provision helps to discourage parents from using Racecourse Lane for the 'school run'.
Safer routes to school
However, concerns were raised about pedestrian safety and the speed of traffic along Racecourse Lane. In May 2008, the council installed advisory 20mph signs outside the school. These colourful signs include artwork by children from the school. In August, work was completed on a speed hump on Racecourse Lane (at the junction with Welshpool Road), a new coloured footway and double yellow lines either side of the school. A new staff car park was also constructed on the school site.
In October, over 30 children and parents, the head teacher and Police Community Support Officers took part in a Park and Stride event to promote the new facilities and to support Walk to School week.
Safer routes to school phase 1b
In December 2008, work was completed on the Racecourse Lane access to the public footpath to Shelton Hospital and the Redwood Park estate. The works included widening the footway, removing the restrictive barriers and introducing 'SLOW' markings on Racecourse Lane.