New pelican crossing welcomed by Leicestershire school

Date: 11/10/2010

Teachers and children at a Leicestershire school have welcomed the building of a new pelican crossing.

The Leicester Mercury reports Langmoor Primary in Oadby has been granted permission for the road safety measure almost a year after requesting it.

Staff and parents initially raised concerns about the dangerous nature of the roads surrounding the establishment, such as lorries driving past from a nearby industrial estate, in 2007 and were granted 20 mph restrictions in 2008.

Headteacher Peter Merry said although there have not been any accidents outside the school, "one more precaution is very welcome indeed".

"It's a hazardous road. We're trying to improve safety for our children all the time," he added.

Furthermore, members of the school's eco council - pupils who discuss ways of improving safety and environmental issues - stated the crossing will make it less dangerous for children to walk to school.

It was recently suggested by Julie Townsend, Deputy Chief Executive of charity Brake, in a piece for the Guardian that road safety should be part of the national curriculum.

Posted by Sarah Bailey