Pupils, parents and staff at Ramsgate Holy Trinity Primary, in Broadstairs, are stepping up their campaign for a pelican or zebra crossing by the school and are being backed by East Thanet MP Polly Billington.
In June the school council and volunteer pupils were joined by teachers, parents and road crossing officer Mrs Harris as well as guests, councillors Joanne and Kristian Bright, for the demo on Dumpton Park Drive.
The aim was to raise awareness of dangerous driving near the school and to call for a zebra or pelican crossing to improve safety for families and the Road Crossing Patrol officer.
Now the school plans to spread the word to the wider community and has had a visit from Polly Billington who has written to Kent County Council to back the crossing plea.
The MP met with school council members yesterday (September 23) to talk about what action had been carried out so far and what could be done next.
Teacher and school council lead Julie Marshall said: “Our school council met with Polly Billington as a follow up to our road safety campaign which started in January.
“It was wonderful for the school council to share what they have done so far and the concerns that we need a crossing because the road is not safe. They also asked Polly what could be done next to push the campaign further.”
Youngsters shared a survey they had carried out about the crossing, there was a whole school assembly, a school song about how to cross the road safely and individual class activities.
Polly was also given a message from crossing patrol officer Mrs Harris, who was unable to attend the event, to say she was still finding that traffic goes too fast along the stretch and was worried about the winter months when visibility is reduced due to darker evenings and bad weather.
Ms Marshall said: “We expressed to Polly that our patrol lady can’t always hold the lollipop in these conditions and has to just step in the road with the parents and children waiting until she says they can cross.”
Ms Marshall says the school has been told there might be a chance’ to get flashing ‘children crossing’ signs but added: “We feel that’s not good enough. We do not want a child to be killed in order for the crossing to happen, we want the crossing to prevent anything like that.”
Ms Marshall says the school will now spread the word about its campaign at Wellesley House, where pupils go swimming, and during their visits to Broadstairs Library, Ramsgate Garden Centre and Holy Trinity Church,
She added: “Polly was really informative and so encouraging to the children to continue to make their voices heard and not to be ignored. She really empowered the school council to continue the campaign.”
Polly has been invited back to the school later this year when youngsters will again take their campaign outside the gates with another peaceful protest, repeating their action in June but this time in the darker months.
Polly Billington said: “I’m proud to support the brilliant road safety campaign led by Holy Trinity’s brilliant School Council. The road outside the school has a long history of dangerous driving, with vehicles speeding throughout the day, which is why the pupils are calling for a pelican crossing to help keep everyone safe.
“When I visited the school, we discussed the next steps in their campaign, including encouraging friends, families, and neighbours to join them in calling for action.
“ I’ve already written to Kent County Council to call for the new pelican crossing and I look forward to joining the children at their next peaceful protest and continuing to support them in their efforts to make the road outside Holy Trinity safer for everyone.”
Kent County Council has been asked for a response.
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