Road safety improvements to begin outside Stoke-on-Trent school

Parents and residents have raised concerns about unsafe parking and speeding vehicles

Author: Dan DaviesPublished 15th Jul 2021

Work to install traffic calming measures on a road outside a primary school is set to start next week.

The scheme on Greatbatch Avenue, in Penkhull, has been developed alongside The Willows Primary School after parents and residents raised concerns about unsafe parking and speeding vehicles.

The work will start on Thursday, July 22 and will include:

• Changing Greatbatch Avenue from two-way to one-way traffic from Tilson Avenue to Mount Avenue;

• Constructing a raised table, to slow vehicles and make it easier for pedestrians to cross, that will incorporate the existing crossing outside Penkhull Education Centre;

• Installing pedestrian barriers and three speed humps on Greatbatch Avenue;

• The retention of the parking provision at Penkhull Education Centre for picking up and dropping off children, but changing the direction of entry and exit.

The scheme is expected to last for up to six weeks and is being carried out during the school holidays to minimise disruption. While the work takes places, there will be road closures on short sections of Greatbatch Avenue as the scheme progresses. Diversion signs will be installed to advise residents and motorists of the route to access their properties at any point in time.

Cllr James Smith, cabinet support member for regeneration, infrastructure and heritage, said: “We’ve developed these plans to tackle concerns raised about unsafe parking and speeding vehicles on Greatbatch Avenue, which were a particular worry during school pick-up and drop-off times.

“We are committed to improving the city’s roads and keeping people safe is one of our top priorities, particularly outside the school gates. This is a carefully designed scheme that we believe will prove effective in curbing the issues that have been raised by the school and the community.”

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