New regulations and speed limits are being introduced on roads in Dudley borough as part of a scheme targeting school-run traffic. The regulations will affect roads around Peters Hill Primary School in Brierley Hill and Brook Primary School in Wordsley.
Dudley’s cabinet member for highways, Cllr Damian Corfield, has given the green light to parking restrictions, traffic calming and a 20mph limit on roads around the schools as part of a pilot of the Safer School Streets Initiative. Cllr Corfield said: “We are committed to making school journeys safer for our children, so it’s great to bring in more road safety measures for busy streets close to two primary schools.
“Our pilot for Safer School Streets will continue until the summer of next year when we will be able to review if it has been successful.” Following a consultation around Brook Primary, on George Street and Oakfield Close and Peters Hill Primary, on Beaumont Drive and Peters Hill Road, a total of 18 responses were received, including just two objections.
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The consultation highlighted concerns among residents near the schools about parked vehicles causing visibility problems at junctions, safety issues for pedestrians, inconsiderate parking and unsuitable vehicle speeds. The School Streets Initiative says government statistics show 14 per cent of children killed on Britain’s roads in 2018 were involved in accidents during the morning school run and 23 per cent in the afternoon rush.
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The pressure group also says a report from insurer Admiral shows a 43 per cent fall in road collisions during the holidays at school run time.
Dudley borough roads affected by the changes are:
- Farndale Crescent, Stourbridge
- Fitzgerald Place, Stourbridge
- Martindale Walk, Stourbridge
- Beaumont Drive, Stourbridge
- Stow Drive, Stourbridge
- Sorrell Walk
- Stamford Road
- Speedwell Gardens
- Hern Road and Fennel Road
- Broomehill Close
- Peters Hill Road
- Brook Street, Brierley Hill
- Brooklands, Brierley Hill
- Oak Park Road, Brierley Hill
- Lyndhurst Drive, Brierley Hill
- Dewberry Road, Brierley Hill