Primary school unveils ‘monster’ safety plan

Overton St Helens Primary School unveiled its latest imaginative idea to improve the safety of pupils and parents travelling to the school.

The school, which recently won the ‘Best Primary School Initiative’ prize at the National Sustrans School Travel Awards – has opened a new 'Safer Route to School' using bright green monster style footprints to guide children on their way.

Lancashire County Council has just completed work on the £20,000 project, which includes pedestrian safety improvements to the road outside the school and in the village, and better pedestrian facilities within the school. Pupils contributed to the scheme by designing the bright green footprints painted on the pavement outside school.

"We became involved with safer travel and school travel plans after increasing concern about potential daily accidents at the school gate and experiencing problems getting children to and from school safely," Alison Smith, headteacher at Overton St Helens, said. "People think that these problems only affect urban schools but here in Overton we had some real difficulties.

"Parents used to rely on their cars to transport their children to school because crossing the road was so difficult. I would urge any school to get in touch with the County Council to find out more about travel plans and safer routes – they can make a huge difference."

For further information please contact: Martin Crabtree on 01772 533536, Email: martin.crabtree@css.lancscc.gov.uk