Work to install a crossing outside a primary school has begun – with the hopes the crossing will be up and running by the time children return to school in September.
It will be installed outside St George's CE Primary School in Westhoughton – with councillors overjoyed that it is finally being installed in the 'problem' area.
Parents and councillors have been asking for the crossing to be installed for three years and now the crossing outside the school based on The Hoskers, will have a zebra crossing installed.
Cllr David Wilkinson said: “The crossing is a real step forward because obviously when the school lost its crossing patrol, it is a very busy school with significant traffic problems with speeding and also parking, the road was unsafe, so the fact we are now starting to see the crossing which will be up and ready before the school is back from the summer holidays, will be a great boost for road safety and we are really pleased it is now actually happening.
“It is a shame that it has taken this long but unfortunately Covid came along and delayed things.
“We got the funding through the Transport for Greater Manchester pot which meant that the area forum money which had been allocated for it was then spent on other highways issues in Westhoughton.
“One down and some more to go and we will be looking at others.”
Cllr Wilkinson said he believes most parents who take their children to school will welcome the new crossing.
He said: “The school lost its crossing patrol some time ago, at least three years ago.
“The road, although part of it has some traffic calming measures on it, we live in a world where some people ignore traffic calming and after the road was resurfaced last year, the speed bumps were reduced to comply with current government rules about speed bumps.
“Prior to this they were quite big and stopped people from speeding but with the culmination of the loss of a lollipop person, the road resurfacing was done but the speed bumps were 20 or 30 years old and brought down to regulations so meant people could speed.
“So, the speeding problem existed, there was no way people could cross in a controlled and safe manner so that is one of the reasons why we went for the crossing at the school, because it is on a road with bends and bends.
“The risk level was quite significant because of the road conditions that allowed people to speed.”
Headteacher of the school, Philip Ivory, also previously said the school is pleased the crossing is being installed.
If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @chloewjourno.
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