Proposed safer routes to schools in Wem

Shropshire Council is proposing to introduce a Safer Routes to School scheme to encourage more walking and to improve safety on the school journey in Wem. 

A package of measures on New Street and Shrubbery Gardens are proposed: these include a new zebra crossing and associated footway widening on New Street, at the junction with Pyms Road. 

Alterations will also be made to the existing uncontrolled crossing point outside of St Peter’s CE Primary School in the form of a footway buildout, with a give-way priority system for traffic.  New flashing warning lights will be introduced on both approaches to the school. 

This will improve safety for pedestrians, particularly schoolpupils, and deter inappropriate parking at the front of the school. 

Work is scheduled to start earlyFebruary 2013. 

Simon Jones, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for highways, said:

“We hope that these proposals will help to improve some of the key issues that have been communicated to us, and will encourage more pupils, parents and teachers to walk to school.”  

Chris Mellings, a local Shropshire Councillor for Wem and Chair of Governors at St Peter’s, added:

“We have long campaigned for improvements at both these locations to make it safer for pedestrians to access St Peter’s and Thomas Adams.  It is great news that, following a successful consultation, work will shortly start to deliver these improvements.  As well as making it safer, I am sure it will encourage more people to walk.  We also continue to campaign for safer crossing facilities along Mill Street, which again has been a longstanding concern for local residents in the south of the town.”