We've been without a school crossing patrol officer for two terms and Croydon Council have rejected our request for a zebra crossing on the following grounds:
(a) it would result in the removal of a number of on-street parking places outside residential properties, which is likely to prove unpopular with residents and attract objections during the necessary legal process to implement this.
(b) there are existing traffic calming features which include a part-time 20mph traffic speed limit
(c) this site does not have a poor accident accident record and there are other sites around the borough that have a higher priority.
However, our children (particularly years 5 and 6) are currently walking to school unsupervised and crossing the road on their own. This is encouraged by all schools in order to give the pupils confidence in their road skills and reduce the risk of accidents when they travel to their High Schools unassisted but, without assistance on a busy road full of parked cars, lorries, buses. How safe will our children remain?
Woodside school has access to two zebra crossings in addition to a school crossing patrol person, so why not us? Other schools in the area also have additional safety measures.
This decision has been heavily influenced by spending cuts. Once our school crossing patrol officer stepped down, a replacement was not sought as a way of reducing costs to the Public Purse. I would point out that a need was identified for this service before her departure, and there has been no change in the School's circumstances since. In addition to this, our school is a state school, and should be entitled to the same funding with regard to road safety issues.
Concern has been raised by both teachers and parents on the need for additional safety measures on Birchanger Road. Why do we have to wait for a potentially fatal accident to occur in order to justify having a zebra crossing or patrol person? For this reason, we are launching the petition in order to help demonstrate to the Council the urgent need for additional road safety improvements, and would greatly appreciate it if the local community could support our campaign.
Updates
June 8, 2016
I spent the morning watching kids try to navigate that traffic while dodging parked cars and I am more convinced than ever that we are being ignored. The council keeps talking about budgets and parking spots while I am just trying to make sure our children actually make it to school in one piece. We are not giving up on this fight because the safety of our students is not negotiable.
June 8, 2016
Seeing this level of support reminds me that I am not the only one terrified to watch my child navigate that busy road alone each morning. This momentum proves that our neighborhood refuses to prioritize parking spaces over the lives of our students.
Reached 100 supporters
June 8, 2016
90 Comments
The crossing is very dangerous as some people (parents) will always stop to allow you to cross and others do not and this can leave parents and children stuck in the middle of the road. I have four children under 5 and find the crossing particularly dangerous.
Birchanger. Road is a busy road and a zebra crossing would help ensure the safety of school children and elderly alike. After not replacing the School Patrol Officer, this is the least the council should undertake. If it's good enough to for Woodside school, should be good enough for St. Thomas Beckett Catholic primary school
This is ridiculous! No safe guards in place yet I have nearly been hit twice outside the school gates since our lolly pop lady left! As for residents, most have off street parking!
I am surprised that we are even debating about this,Birchanger Road is a busy road with cars parked on both sides making visibility poor for children to cross safely.Lets not wait for a child to get hurt before something is done!!
I use this crossing with my children and have seen several 'near misses' since losing our lollipop lady. Cars don't know whether they are supposed to stop or not and many go flying through well over the 20mph limit.
It is very important to have a lollipop lady since most drivers refuse to notice the school and when children are crossing
It would be great cause since we don't have the lolipop lady it's very hard to cross as most of these drivers just ignore you!
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We've been without a school crossing patrol officer for two terms and Croydon Council have rejected our request for a zebra crossing on the following grounds:
(a) it would result in the removal of a number of on-street parking places outside residential properties, which is likely to prove unpopular with residents and attract objections during the necessary legal process to implement this.
(b) there are existing traffic calming features which include a part-time 20mph traffic speed limit
(c) this site does not have a poor accident accident record and there are other sites around the borough that have a higher priority.
However, our children (particularly years 5 and 6) are currently walking to school unsupervised and crossing the road on their own. This is encouraged by all schools in order to give the pupils confidence in their road skills and reduce the risk of accidents when they travel to their High Schools unassisted but, without assistance on a busy road full of parked cars, lorries, buses. How safe will our children remain?
Woodside school has access to two zebra crossings in addition to a school crossing patrol person, so why not us? Other schools in the area also have additional safety measures.
This decision has been heavily influenced by spending cuts. Once our school crossing patrol officer stepped down, a replacement was not sought as a way of reducing costs to the Public Purse. I would point out that a need was identified for this service before her departure, and there has been no change in the School's circumstances since. In addition to this, our school is a state school, and should be entitled to the same funding with regard to road safety issues.
Concern has been raised by both teachers and parents on the need for additional safety measures on Birchanger Road. Why do we have to wait for a potentially fatal accident to occur in order to justify having a zebra crossing or patrol person? For this reason, we are launching the petition in order to help demonstrate to the Council the urgent need for additional road safety improvements, and would greatly appreciate it if the local community could support our campaign.
Updates
June 8, 2016
I spent the morning watching kids try to navigate that traffic while dodging parked cars and I am more convinced than ever that we are being ignored. The council keeps talking about budgets and parking spots while I am just trying to make sure our children actually make it to school in one piece. We are not giving up on this fight because the safety of our students is not negotiable.
June 8, 2016
Seeing this level of support reminds me that I am not the only one terrified to watch my child navigate that busy road alone each morning. This momentum proves that our neighborhood refuses to prioritize parking spaces over the lives of our students.
Reached 100 supporters
June 8, 2016
90 Comments
vehicles still go fast down Birchanger rd, I have seen vehicles over taking a slower one, they don't seem to take any notice of the school signs also there are a lot of parked cars so vehicles may not see the children crossing. I think we should have a crossing person to help the children cross the road safely.
The crossing is very dangerous as some people (parents) will always stop to allow you to cross and others do not and this can leave parents and children stuck in the middle of the road. I have four children under 5 and find the crossing particularly dangerous.
Birchanger. Road is a busy road and a zebra crossing would help ensure the safety of school children and elderly alike. After not replacing the School Patrol Officer, this is the least the council should undertake. If it's good enough to for Woodside school, should be good enough for St. Thomas Beckett Catholic primary school
This is ridiculous! No safe guards in place yet I have nearly been hit twice outside the school gates since our lolly pop lady left! As for residents, most have off street parking!
I am surprised that we are even debating about this,Birchanger Road is a busy road with cars parked on both sides making visibility poor for children to cross safely.Lets not wait for a child to get hurt before something is done!!
I use this crossing with my children and have seen several 'near misses' since losing our lollipop lady. Cars don't know whether they are supposed to stop or not and many go flying through well over the 20mph limit.
It is very important to have a lollipop lady since most drivers refuse to notice the school and when children are crossing
It would be great cause since we don't have the lolipop lady it's very hard to cross as most of these drivers just ignore you!
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vehicles still go fast down Birchanger rd, I have seen vehicles over taking a slower one, they don't seem to take any notice of the school signs also there are a lot of parked cars so vehicles may not see the children crossing. I think we should have a crossing person to help the children cross the road safely.