Mum Dawn's fear for the safety of pupils

SAFETY fears . . . mum Dawn Speller with son Maxwell

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A MUM has called for Oldham Council to bring in measures to tackle a dangerous road used by schoolchildren in Lees.

Dawn Speller (40) of Woodside Close branded the efforts of the council as "desperately inadequate".

Concerns have been raised by parents about heavy traffic and "hazards" in nearby roads such as Beckett Street and Medlock Road.

Parents and head teachers of Hey with Zion Primary School and St Edward's RC Primary School met with Cllr Stephen Hewitt to discuss the issue. A council spokesman said a scheme has been proposed to introduce yellow lines along Acorn Street near the footpath link used by parents and school children.

The Traffic Order Panel (TRO Panel) are scheduled to meet in January to assess the objections and input by residents.

Dawn, who has been campaigning for a safe school crossing in Acorn Street for three years, said: "It is dangerous and someone will get hurt.

"It is only a matter of time.

"There needs to be adequate road markings and clear signs and ideally a zebra crossing, speed humps and 10mph speed limit.

"It is on a bend and cars bomb up and down it.

"The work that has been completed since my first correspondence over three years ago is desperately inadequate.

"I still fear for mine, my son's and all of the other children and parents' safety in crossing this road twice daily."

The concerned mother has since made eight further complaints to Oldham Council and her neighbours have petitioned for double yellow lines.

Proposals at the meeting included a barrier outside the front entrance of St Edward's, more road signs, white lines outside residents' driveways and the presence of PCSOs and traffic wardens.

Hey with Zion head teacher Andrew Clowes said: "I have had constructive conversations with the highways team and was impressed with the response I got from the local councillors.

"All we want is the safest possible journey to and from schools for children."

In the school blog he wrote: "Immediately by school the roads are ever so congested and when cars drive on pavements, even slowly, it is extremely hazardous for pedestrians.

"I have known a Hey with Zion pupil die in a traffic accident in Turner Street and I never want to learn of another such tragedy.

"Further afield, I have had concerns expressed about hazards on the route to school in streets such as Beckett Street, Acorn Street, Wellyhole Street and Constantine Street."

Dawn's son Maxwell Taylor (10) uses a mini bus to attend a morning and after school club at Hey With Zion, in Rowland Way, rather than walking there.

Finance officer Dawn said: "Maxwell keeps saying his friend walks to school and asks to join him but until there is a safe place for him to cross I wouldn't want him to.

"It is not safe and I know other parents feel the same."

A working committee has been set up with the first meeting scheduled to take place at St Edwards on December 9.

A council spokesman said: "A scheme was proposed to introduce yellow lines in Acorn Street, in the vicinity of the footpath link that runs from Acorn Street to Medlock Way.

"When the proposal was advertised, a number of objections were received.

"When objections are received they will be presented to the council's TRO Panel for them to make a decision on whether the scheme is introduced without amendment, amended or rescinded."