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Calls for road safety measures on Dogsthorpe Road
Nicola Day-Dempsey with Cllr John Shearman collecting names in Dogsthorpe Road. (METP-20-01-12DL031). Picture: David Lowndes/Peterborough ET
CONCERNED residents have backed a campaign to improve road safety measures near Queen’s Drive Infant School, that has struggled to find and keep a lollipop lady to help youngsters cross safely.
About 200 people have added their names to a petition due to be presented to Peterborough City Council on Wednesday calling for a light-controlled crossing in Dogsthorpe Road near its junction with Queen’s Drive West.
The zebra crossing lost its lollipop lady at the end of last term, due in part to reckless drivers failing to stop when instructed. It followed another grassroots campaign two years ago calling for the council to appoint a school crossing guard after the area went without someone in the post for several months.
Councillor John Shearman, member of the council for the Park ward and part of the 2010 campaign, has been collecting names in support of a light-controlled crossing, along with prospective Park ward council candidate Nicola Day-Dempsey.
He said: “We believe the best approach is to deal with this once and for all by putting in a light-controlled crossing.”
Cllr Shearman said the improvements should be a priority for the authority such is the risk on the road.
He said: “What’s the greater cost, a child being killed or putting in the lights? I think, on balance, most people will believe whatever it costs the council that it’s far better to put in the lights.”
Miss Day-Dempsey (33), of Garton End Road, said: “My son attends Thomas Deacon Academy and a light controlled crossing has been installed on Park Road at the junction with Queen’s Drive West.
“It is superb and children and young people are at no risk.
“I hope the council will listen to local parents, teachers and all who have signed our petition and put a similar crossing point in on Dogsthorpe Road.”
Sarah Skinner, acting headteacher at Queen’s Drive Infant School, in Queen’s Drive West, said: “Many cars just don’t stop for people on the crossing, even when it was enforced by a crossing patrol.”
She added: “A lot of our children are accompanied by their parents so we hope they will be safe, but it’s an accident waiting to happen.”
A council spokeswoman said: “Once the petition is received we will carry out a preliminary assessment.”
She said the site was being surveyed to see if it met criteria for the recruitment of a crossing guard.
What do you think?
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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Comments
There are 5 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
regerme
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 08:45 AMIf you could tell a driver the consequence of their actions could prove catastrophic and as a result make our roads safer would you??? Regerme have provided a FREE to use platform to communicate through the medium of vehicle registration numbers by posting pictures and comments. This innovative altruistic website has road safety for schools, how's my driving and road rage reporting components. Launched last week and already supported by a number of MPs and approved by senior police officers around the country the scheme needs the public as well as media on board to gain further traction. It's FREE, it works and could save lives. What other reason do you need? If you drive the scheme is not something you can opt out of. Search regerme, log on and check your registration. You may have a comment. Thank you
NicLab1
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 11:03 PMThis is a very busy and built up road, I have seen, even with cameras present,at that crossing, large cars drive straight over the crossing and ignoring the lollipop lady. This is the crossing to an infant school, there are very young children and families that use this crossing, as well as older children crossing from the TDA. Yes, we need people to stop. If they fail to stop, we need a stronger crossing and of course, police presence to enforce this. It is awful that we would all stop for a red light, but not for a human being that is helping young children and young families to cross the road.
smith
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 06:25 PMWell 2 from your comments I would say dont blame the police, blame the people who make the law and decide on penalties. Whats the point of the police prosecuting people when the end result is naff all.....
henry
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 03:31 PMI take your point about the behaviour of drives not stopping, being rude and parking illegally - but its a police matter and I believe that at the times of going to and from school when there is a lot of movement of children the police could and should be pro-active in random areas and come down on these people like a ton of bricks. But they don't and we are having difficulty in filling these positions because they a]have not got the backing of the so called authorities. It's what you call a brake-down of law and order! I can remember living in Germany where one of the school kids had a trffic disc looked like a large lolly pop and when a group wanted to cross the road he or she simply stood on the path and extened hisher arm with traffic disc out into the road and guest what the traffic stopped. The question is why? The answer is because the penalty was so servere. They didn't pussy foot about like us and it worked!
rebel woman
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 09:31 AMA traffic light controlled crossing would certainly be better. I am not making excuses for the stupid drivers that don't stop at zebra crossings but some lollipop ladies and gents don't do the job effectively. They just walk out into the road at will for one child at a time. Whats wrong with waiting if you see another child approaching. Some will hold the traffic up just because they can see a child approaching 50 yards away. Thats why drivers get fruststrated. Do they get traing or are they left to make up their own rules. When there are lights there is no need for a lollipop person. They just need to educate the children in road safety
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