Safer road route

Worcester city councillors last night agreed to reduce speed limits around Red Hill CE Primary to 20mph - just one part of the original scheme to encourage parents to leave cars at home and walk their children to school.

The news was welcomed today by Worcester MP Mike Foster who has been campaigning for reduced speed limits.

"I can understand some people having concerns their drive home from work might be slowed down by 30 seconds, but the safety of children and encouraging them to walk to school should be worth that 30 seconds," he said.

"Many lessons can be learnt from Red Hill so when other schools look at Safer Routes they can be fast-tracked."

The decision was taken at the city's transportation sub-committee that the amended scheme should go ahead as soon as possible.

Support for the scheme has decreased since the original proposals were made in 1999, from 71 per cent at the time of the proposals, to nearly a quarter of residents.

"I feel it's doubtful this scheme will reach its objective," said Alan Richards, who made public representation at the meeting on behalf of Battenhall residents.

"Road humps cause difficulty with ambulances carrying people with spinal injuries and cancer patients who are in pain when they go over the humps."

The residents hoped councillors would defer a decision in order for officers to revise the proposals - a motion favoured by Conservatives.

But Labour councillors said the more this scheme was delayed, the higher the risk to children.

"We need to get this scheme properly sorted along the lines that were originally proposed, get on with it, show that we're committed to safety for our schoolchildren, and stop bleating about problems with getting big cars out," said Coun Adrian Gregson.

"All the residents I've spoken to are in favour of the 20mph plans and interested in the safer routes and traffic calming," said committee chairman, Robert Rowden.