'Safe routes to schools will save lives,' says Local Councillor

Local Councillor and Labour Assembly Candidate for Cardiff North today welcomed the announcement that Cardiff County Council has been given £431,000 for the creation of Safe Routes to Schools for Whitchurch High School.  The project which will include eleven safety improvement schemes across Whitchurch and Rhiwbina has come as a result of Councillor Sophie Howe working with the school and the Council's Traffic Department to look at ways to address the concerns that were raised by pupils about their routes to school.  Council Traffic Officers worked with teachers and pupils at the school to identify the routes they used and any safety issues and then submitted a bid for safety improvement work to the Welsh Assembly.

The bid submitted to the Assembly included the following improvements to routes used by pupils.

1. Velindre Road roundabout - Velindre Road and Kelston Road - pedestrian crossings
2. Pantbach Road - pedestrian crossing
3. Three phased scemes providing cycle lanes along Manor Way
4. Church Road - soeed reduction scheme
5. Park Road and Park Crescent - junction improvements and speed reduction measures
6. St Margarets Road - improvement to dropped kerbs
7. Plas Treoda - table junction and speed reduction measures
8. Pantmawr Road and Coryton Rise - junction improvements
9. Provision of cycle stands and lockers at the school

Councillor Sophie Howe had just last week criticised the Lib Dem Council for leaving a backlog of 114 road safety schemes in a council black hole awaiting finance.  She said she was "delighted by the news of this funding from the Assembly", which would address many of the schemes in Whitchurch which had been awaiting finance.

Sophie Howe said:

"Too many children are hurt in road accidents around schools.  16 children aged 0-7 are killed or seriously injured every week on the roads.  This is unacceptable.  These road improvements will help to encourage children to walk to school and make parents feel more confident about allowing them to."

She continued:

"Many of the schemes which will be funded have been identified for some time by local residents as problem areas but funding has not been forthcoming from the Council to deal with the problems and improve road safety.  This news will be welcomed by pupils, parents and local residents who will be pleased that there will finally be some action to improve road safety in the area."

Labour Assembly Minister, Andrew Davies said:

"Cars kill more kids than cancer.  That is why, if re-elected, the Labour party will introduce a £100 million safer roads fund for Wales.  We will introduce more Safe Routes to School and more 20mph zones outside schools."

Comments

[Julia Shearn]

Hi - good news about making safer routes to school. I was wondering why there is no plans for a speed camera on Pendywallt. Traffic coming down from Coryton Interchange into Whitchurch, do so at more than 30 miles an hour. Coming off the motorway they seem to forget they are in a residential area. They often race to get through the 2 sets of traffic lights before they change. We have a lollypop man to cross our children over to Coryton Primary School but it is quite un- nerving wondering if the traffic will stop in time when going so fast. If you cross over the A470 and go up to the the other end of Pantmawr road in Rhwibina, there is a speed camera and another speed camera around the corner and yet there is no childrens' schools nearby. I wonder if anyone else feels there should be a speed camera to slow traffic coming down the Pendywallt from Coryton interchange?