STP results in 20mph zone around Portsmouth schools

School children from Portsmouth celebrated the official opening of the 20mph School Safety Zone outside their school by taking part in a range of cycling and child pedestrian training activities. Portsmouth City Council closed the road to mark the occasion and invited the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth to officially open it.

Children, parents, teachers, governors and neighbouring residents all had a say in the various road safety engineering measures that are included in the School Travel Plan for Solent Junior and Solent Infant Schools, which culminated in the construction of a 20mph Safety Zone around the schools. Key features of the scheme include several raised crossing areas, speed cushions, various coloured surfacing and the 20mph speed limit.

Portsmouth City Council held a competition for infant children to design pictures to warn drivers to slow down. Several of these pictures are now built into the design of the 20mph warning signs around the School. The photo shows the Lord Mayor congratulating Nabila Damani, one of the winning designers.

Infant children took part in introductory Kerbcraft activities, which included where to cross the road, and where to position feet before crossing. The children also took the opportunity to be a school crossing patrol officer for the afternoon on the closed road.

Local residents were also invited to take part, because the 20mph Safety Zone design was created not only by the views of pupils, parents and teachers, but also by neighbouring residents.

For further information about this article contact Dean Spears: dean.spears@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.