Three more schools in York are set to get new 20mph School Safety Zones under proposals unveiled by City of York Council today (Friday, July 5, 2002).

Members of the council's Planning and Transport (South Area) Sub Committee are meeting on Thursday (July 11) to discuss plans for new School Safety Zones for Lord Deramore's Primary School in Heslington, Our Lady's R.C. Primary School in Acomb and Wheldrake Primary School.

The new speed limiting zones are designed to address safety concerns in the vicinity of the schools - with both the volume and the speed of traffic and congestion caused by parking among the issues raised by parents, teachers and pupils.

In consultation with the head teachers of the schools the council is proposing the introduction of a speed limit of 20mph and using a variety of traffic calming measures to slow the traffic and improve safety by making it easier to cross the road.

Councillor Tracey Simpson-Laing, the council's executive member for transport, said, "Improving the safety of our children on the roads around our schools is one of our key priorities. It is extremely important that we encourage our children to use more sustainable ways of getting to school by alternative means like walking or cycling.

"By initiating School Safety Zones we believe that children, parents and staff will be safer and healthier.

"We should also remember that schools are an important part of the local community and neighbouring residents will also receive the added bonus of reduced levels of traffic fumes and noise."

The York School Travel Survey, which was produced in November 2000, discovered that the speed of traffic was the second highest concern (15.7 percent) among children about their journeys to school.

The three new schemes are part of the council's £500,000 package for school safety programmes this year with a total of 13 schools in the city on a priority list for action within the current financial year - including Lord Deramore's, Our Lady's and Wheldrake Primary Schools.

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