Information on Loughborough

Slower speeds to aid walking to school

Posted on 02/11/2009

Leicestershire Councty Council Highways, Transportation & Waste Management

2 November 2009

Slower speeds to aid walking to school *** photo opportunity ***

An £8,000 scheme to improve safety close to a Harborough primary school has recently been completed.

The package of measures is designed to help pupils at Bringhurst Primary School and includes changes to the speed limit on roads between Great Easton and Bringhurst villages.

Previously set at the national 60mph limit, this has now been reduced to 40mph through Bringhurst and on parts of Great Easton Road, Middleton Road and Drayton Road, close to the school.

An advisory school 20mph limit has also been brought in to cover the area of Great Easton Road where the school is located.

‘Z’ bend signs, to warn of a sharp bend, have also been relocated within the 40mph speed limit to make drivers more aware of the danger, together with a 'school ahead' sign to highlight its presence to vehicles.

New improved school signs have also been equipped with solar-powered flashing lights which activate at the start and end of the school day.

Residents of both Great Easton and Drayton campaigned for the improvements along with Bringhurst Primary School, which were introduced by the County Council at the end of September.

Bill Liquorish, Chair of the Harborough Highways Forum, said: “We hope that by reducing the speeds on the nearby village roads, we will encourage more children and their families to walk to school.

"The relocated warning road signs and flashing school signs will make drivers more aware of the bend and of the fact they need to drive at a more appropriate speed. 60mph was too fast for a road so close to a school and we have worked closely with the police to bring this limit down.”

Photo Opportunity:

On 5th November at 2.30pm, Bill Liquorish will be available for a photograph outside the school with PC Andy Cooper, Headteacher Rose Williams and children from the school.

The school’s address is: Great Easton Road, Bringhurst, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, LE16 8RH. Tel: 01536 770362