Pensford Primary School wants 20mph limit on A37
Parents and governors of Pensford Primary School want a 20mph speed limit on the main road outside the school after a string of accidents and near misses.
In February a lorry swerved onto the wrong side of the A37 to avoid hitting stationary traffic and knocked down metal railings outside the school before smashing into a bus shelter.
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Children wait at this stop to catch the Chew Valley school bus and if the crash had happened at a different time of day it would have been much more serious.
Bath and North East Somerset Council is relocating a speed camera to Station Approach in the village and has moved the metal safety railing back from the road Paul Traub, a parent governor, says this increases the risk to children and drivers.
He said it was well-known that drivers accelerate once they are past a speed camera.
Mr Traub, of Pensford Hill, Pensford, said: "Given that just past the proposed site the road widens and there is good sighting distance this encourages drivers to speed from this point.
"This will result in drivers accelerating towards the school on a section of road on a decline, at a bend and with poor sighting and braking distance.
"The camera is approximately 800 metres too far up the road for it to have any safety impact."
He said that the safety rail had been moved away from the road which also encouraged drivers to speed and provided an incentive for vehicles to mount the pavement outside the school when avoiding lorries coming in the opposite direction on the narrow road.
Mr Traub said a petition sent to the council last year had been ignored and he believes the site of the camera is based on convenience and cost rather than the safety of the children of Pensford School.
He said: "The situation is now so bad that many residents drive their children 100 yards to the school rather than walk because of the risks to themselves and their children."
He has called for a 20-mph limit through Pensford and a camera in a better position so it can be enforced.
A survey of 400 people by North East Somerset MP Dan Norris last year showed that six out of 10 people want to see speed curbed on the A37.
Mr Norris said: "By moving the safety barrier back, the council has effectively narrowed the pavement that is safely available to families.
"They've done this right outside a primary school on a very busy main road. Constituents have told me they find it extraordinary that B&NES seems to be more interested in protecting a barrier from damage, than better protecting children.
"I am now trying to discover exactly what risk assessments the council did before moving this child safety barrier."
B&NES spokesman James Hinchcliffe said: "Bath and North East Somerset Council is always willing to discuss with local residents and businesses possible ways of making our roads safer.
"Any proposal must be properly investigated. Under current regulations, speed camera equipment may only be located where there is an existing history of injury accidents and the speed limit is regularly broken.
"On the stretch of the A37 outside Pensford Primary School there has been one injury accident in 10 years where a drunk driver lost control of his vehicle at 3am in 2002.
"The overwhelming majority of vehicles observe the 30 mph speed limit. In contrast, the proposed site near Station Approach had a recent count showing that 42 per cent of vehicles approaching Pensford from the north are exceeding the speed limit. Eight accidents involving injury were recorded within a short distance of the proposed site over the same 10-year period."
9 Comments
by Terry, Clutton
Thursday, October 15 2009, 12:05PM
“First, the facts. 2 accidents here in 10 years, one a drunk at 2 AM, and one a dozy truck driver, -no evidence of 'speeding' here, and I believe the right choice was made to hit railings etc rather than cars to save lives. I don't believe that this meets the criteria for new speed camera placement. Is this why it was moved from the original (logical) position near the school?
I'm sure Mr Noriss's survey was very democratic, but merely shows that 6 out of 10 of people that bother to return this type of survey (just 400) are in favour of speed reduction, and not for example how many drive, or drive safely within speed limits themselves.
Arguably, the road layout changes near Station Approach have already done much to reduce accidents, although I'm sure any improvement will be claimed for the proposed 'safety' camera in future. It will certainly not take long to pay for itself...
No one wants to see children damaged, but a 20MPH limit all through pensford at all hours seems illogical. Let's have bigger brighter 20mph signs on during school and school bus arrival and departure hours, maybe policed by parents themselves with radar guns as trialed elsewhere. It is obvious that even safety barriers are not infallible, and I believe that their position is less important than their ability to withstand heavy impact.”
by Martin, Clifton
Wednesday, October 14 2009, 5:40PM
“Alexander, even if we ignore global warming, oil is going to run out in the next few decades.
The problem is people like you who insist on your right to drive recklessly, endangering innocent peoples lives. If drivers cannot show a bit of restraint new a school where children play, then they do not deserve the privilege of being allowed to drive a car.”
by Alexander, Clifton
Wednesday, October 14 2009, 4:54PM
“Well I am sure His Highness Clarkson would be rightly proud, we can't all live our lives being dictated to and form an agreeing line of sheep when any one from the green eco fascists and health and safety bods tell us we are all going to die if the poxy speed limit isnt reduced and little johnny has a better chance of surviving being run over rather than address why the idiot didn't look before he ran in to on coming traffic. Global warming doesnt exist by the way sorry to deflate you balloon. Lets all buy Range Rovers and pollute some more, sod the environment, we want more warm summers. Sorry got off the subject there,road safety education starts at school and if they were taken to a morgue and shown what happens to a person when they are run over by a truck, they would look left and look right. We molly coddle them and show them pictures of bandages and drawings , show them reality, might wake a few up from their comatose state.”
by Conrad, BS1
Wednesday, October 14 2009, 4:19PM
“Jeremy would be proud of you Alexander.
you little pawn.”
by Alexander, Clifton
Wednesday, October 14 2009, 4:05PM
“I suggest we raise the speed limit so we can all get to where we are going a little bit faster, get more done in the day and re educate children properly . Cyclists and pedestrians should accept that being fleshy and 65kgs will not win when being hit by a 2 ton car, look where the hell you are going, morons.”
by Mark, BRISTOL
Wednesday, October 14 2009, 3:46PM
“My word Alexander what an angry little man you are!
It's a shame there aren't less people like you in this world it would be a much more pleasent place to be.
20 mph, a great idea!”
by Alexander, Clifton
Wednesday, October 14 2009, 3:43PM
“Well if the scum bag parents dont discipline their children into learning that if they run out into traffic with out looking and learning that they will be killed then it is hardly the fault of the car driver is it and 90% of pedestrians or menaces as I now call them, are simply in a catatonic state and do not care if they get run over. I would run over 15 -20 people a week if I didnt brake whist they aimlessly cross the road as if they were the only person in existance. Clarkson rocks by the way, love the way he belittles the eco communist lental eating dogoody bike riding mentalist Andys of this world.”
by Andy, BS1
Wednesday, October 14 2009, 10:15AM
“Let them have a 20 mph speed limit, anything for child safety.
Up yours Clarkson and your ilk...”
by Steve, Glastonbury
Wednesday, October 14 2009, 8:04AM
“Or they could teach the kids about Road safety properly like used to happen? Bring back the Tufty Club or Green Cross Code man”