Safety campaigners make school crossing case
Road safety campaigners have met the councillor responsible for Shropshire's highways to press their case for the installation of a pedestrian crossing near a county primary school.
The campaigners have been battling for nearly a year for the crossing on St Martins Road near Gobowen Primary School.
Their fight was given fresh impetus earlier this month when 11-year-old Oliver Lloyd suffered serious injuries after being in collision with a car at the spot where the campaigners say the crossing should be built.
Councillor Claire Wild, Shropshire Council's cabinet member for highways, was invited to see the traffic problem for herself yesterday when she met campaigners.
Campaigners said they felt the talks were very positive and said they hoped to hear next Friday whether the funding had been awarded to the crossing project.
Campaigner Dot Basham said Shropshire Council chiefs would meet to proritise which road traffic schemes should be funded in the next financial year.
She said: "The talks went very well and I came away feeling very positive.
"Claire Wild saw the situation for herself and I think she was left in no doubt that a crossing was needed.
"I am very hopeful they will put the funding towards it and we could be getting to crossing as early as April next year.
"In the meantime we are to get vehicle activated signs on the road warning drivers to slow down which is absolutely great.
"It is fingers crossed for Friday now but I really do feel we will get this crossing."
Fellow campaigner Donna St John said she was delighted the proposed crossing would be a pelican crossing rather than just a zebra crossing.
She said: "It will be a proper crossing with lights to stop traffic which will make crossing the road so much safer.
"We just have to wait to see what happens on Friday now."
Councillor Wild has been invited to the talks by Shropshire Councillor for Gobowen David Lloyd.
Councillor Lloyd said: "We are hopeful that a decision will be taken within days.
"We were anxious for Councillor Wilde to see the hazardous situation for herself and how children from large estates on the other side of the busy St Martins Road have to cross too and from school.
"Those attending what proved a constructive meeting welcomed her intervention."
