Parents whose children attend Holy Trinity Primary School in Bradley Stoke are celebrating after South Gloucestershire Councillors on the Southern Brooks Area Forum agreed to support a proposal for a new raised crossing on Pear Tree Road.
The proposal to install a raised table at the existing zebra crossing near the school, at an estimated cost of £26,000, won through in a competition for £50,000 of capital funding available for local transport schemes in the Bradley Stoke, Filton, Patchway, Stoke Gifford and Winterbourne areas.
Parent Tara Monks, who organised a petition to urge the Council to put in measures to make the existing zebra crossing a safer place to cross, said:
“I’ve seen cars speed up to the zebra crossing and have to slam on their brakes to stop. We need a safe place for children to cross and signs to slow down the traffic. Our local Councillor, Jon Williams, has supported us and has helped the school renew its Travel Plan to support our campaign. It’s great news to see that the scheme has received the go ahead.”
Talking after the meeting, Cllr Williams (Lib Dem) said:
“This is a real victory for local people. Tara and other parents have worked hard to persuade the council that this new raised crossing is needed. I’ve been very happy to work with the school on the Travel Plan and give support to parents to make this campaign a success.”
Local Conservatives were also quick to claim credit for the success of the application, with Town Mayor Ben Walker writing in a comment on another story in The Journal:
“The Pear Tree scheme agreement is a really important result for Bradley Stoke, this road and the school and will make a huge impact on the safety of all users, especially the school children, parents and carers. I have been lobbying Conservative Cabinet and Group Councillors for a long time for this to become a reality, and now I’m pleased to see it will be. Thank you.”
Adding, in a follow-up email to The Journal:
“I have been supporting the task register road schemes for Bradley Stoke, quite literally for Bradley Stoke. I’m not claiming credit for anything but demonstrating that supporting pressure from myself has helped members make the right decisions.”
The political point scoring echoes a similar squabble over the approval of a raised table crossing on Brook Way in December 2009. That scheme, also funded through an Area Forum capital grant, was supposed to be installed during the current financial year but has been delayed after two objections were received to the statutory notice published in December last year.
Photo: Cllr Jon Williams with parents and children from Holy Trinity Primary School.
Apologies for the lack of colour in the lead photo, which was supplied by South Gloucestershire Liberal Democrats. A full colour view of the same crossing, taken by a Journal photographer, is shown below.
Footnote: Cllr Walker is not currently an SGC Councillor but is thought to be preparing to challenge for Cllr Williams’ Bradley Stoke North seat at the May election.
Re the zebra crossing in question. I recently noticed that one of the Belisha Beacon’s shades (the one on the left heading north) is askew, so the shade which is supposed to stop the light shining on peoples property is in fact preventing the light from warning oncoming traffic of the crossing. Not ideal!
Teresa H
Just to let you know that I have reported this fault. Ref no. WEB 0204080.