New crossing near Wells school

Chris Hill

A zebra crossing will be installed near Wells Primary School to help youngsters travel to lessons more safely following a successful campaign.

After five years of pressure from teachers, governors and local councillors, Norfolk highways officers agreed to begin design work on the crossing on Polka Road, which is expected to be built next year.

An assessment of the busy street also recommended a widening of the pavement to reduce the crossing width.

Headteacher Carol Jennings said the combination of traffic and parked cars made the road a potentially lethal crossing point for her pupils.

“We are absolutely delighted we are going to get a crossing as it will make it so much safer for the children,” she said. “We have been worried about it for such a long time.

“Although there is a speed limit, people gather speed going up the hill and there are a lot of parked cars which make it incredibly dangerous for the children to cross the road.

“We do a lot of road safety and cycle proficiency here, and this will help in our campaign to get children to walk or cycle to school.”

Mrs Jennings will retire from teaching in August, but said she would not miss the completion of work on the new crossing.

“It should be open in 2011 - I might have retired by then, but I shall certainly come back for the grand opening,” she said.

Dr Marie Strong, county councillor for Wells division, helped bring the school's concerns to the council.

She said: “With so much disappointment as to closures and potential closures of facilities it was uplifting to hear that Wells Primary School is to have a crossing.

“The school and parish council have been pushing for a crossing for some time and I was delighted to add to the pressure. I must offer my thanks to the Norfolk County Council highways officers who have been examining the situation for some time - and the wait has been worth it.”