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Glinton school pushing safety message at crossing
AS police praised Arthur Mellows Village College (AMVC) pupils for using a railway footpath responsibly, their school vowed to continue pushing the safety message and prevent a tragedy.
AS police praised Arthur Mellows Village College (AMVC) pupils for using a railway footpath responsibly, their school vowed to continue pushing the safety message and prevent a tragedy.More than 100 children from the school and surrounding primary schools use the Foxcovert crossing, in Glinton, near Peterborough, every day.
Often, trains travelling on the line are so quiet that, worryingly, they can't be heard until they are just feet from the crossing.
Although it isn't a blackspot, the nature of the users means safety is paramount.
When British Transport Police (BTP) officers visited the area to coincide with a Europe-wide level crossing day of action, they spoke to pupils and teachers to make sure they were using it with care.
After watching youngsters dismount from their bikes as they approached the gate and looking both ways, police said they were impressed with their sensible actions.
Today, head of media at AMVC, in Glinton Billy Zaidi, who also uses the foot crossing which spans two tracks, said he was delighted pupils were sticking to the rules.
However, he said the school would continue to press home the importance of avoiding taking unnecessary risks when negotiating the foot crossing.
He said: "I cycle to and from school every day, and I am always impressed at how responsible pupils are.
"We are looking at ways of getting pupils to and from school as safely as possible.
"I will also put a message in the newsletter, reminding them to dismount and take at least one earphone out of their iPods before crossing.
"The last thing we want would be an accident.
"We always have posters up around school reminding them of the basic things."
BTP officer Pc Sean White said the awareness campaign had been a success and he was heartened by the pupils' vigilance.
He said: "All the school kids used it properly. They dismounted and looked left and right.
"There has never been an incident there, but it is used a lot.
"A couple of teachers spoke to us and they will now mention the safety message in assembly."
He added recent improvements by Network Rail, including an iron spring gate, which opens outwards and forces people to come to a stop, as well as clear warning signs, were vital precautions.
He said: "All the kids were really, really good.
"They were sensible and knew the process of looking left and right."
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Weather for Peterborough
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North
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Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
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