Bournemouth primary school welcomes 20mph zone after near-miss
- Published
Parent Tiffany, head teacher Anthony Evans, eight-year-old school parliament member Bella and deputy head Lauren Hayden have been campaigning for change
Pupils have welcomed a new 20mph speed limit outside their school after a child was nearly hit crossing the road.
Children at St Michael's Primary in Bournemouth launched a petition last month after the issue was raised in their school parliament.
The school said reducing the limit from 30mph at its pick-up and drop-off area on West Hill Road would improve safety.
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council said work to bring in the new speed limit would begin at Easter.
Head teacher Anthony Evans said there had been calls to change the speed limit for several years but the issue became more pressing after an incident in December.
"A moped had a near-miss with a sibling of one of our children in Reception and it was a big concern in the whole community," he said.
"Everybody rushed to see what was happening and I think it really sparked some concern amongst the members of the school parliament."
A 20mph zone is being introduced outside St Michael's Primary School on West Hill Road
Somerville Road - on the other side of the school - is a designated School Street. This means it is shut to most traffic during drop-off and pick-up times.
"It's like a tale of two roads," Mr Evans said. "Since that change to a School Street it's a lot safer - children and families walk down that road like a real community hub. It's marvellous.
"But then on the other side you get cars speeding up to 40mph and it's really concerning because that's where our breakfast club is, it's where our SEND provision is - we need to see change."
He said the new 20mph limit would be "great" but that the pupils in the School Parliament believed it "can't come soon enough".
Councillor Millie Earl, deputy council leader and portfolio holder of connected communities, said she was pleased the pupils were "engaging with democracy" via their school parliament and would make sure she responded to the petition.
She said work to the road would also see speed bumps installed.
"Improving road safety is an absolute priority for this council, especially near schools," she said.
"We published plans in March 2023 to add a 20mph speed limit to several roads in Bournemouth town centre, including West Hill Road."
Follow BBC South on Facebook, external, X, external, or Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2240.