Slower speed limit introduced outside Shrewsbury schools

A 20mph zone has been introduced on York Road in Shrewsbury as part of a package of measures to improve safety and encourage more walking and cycling to school. 

Children from two local primary schools, Greenacres and Grange, helped to design the new signs and will be joining local Shropshire councillors to celebrate the opening of the 20mph zone on Wednesday 18 May 2011.

Many local schools are also taking part that week in National Walk to School Week (Monday 16 – Friday 20 May 2011).  This initiative, which runs every year, helps schools to focus on the school journey, reminds people of the benefits of sustainable travel and rewards children for walking to school.

Greenacres Primary School is also involved with the Sustrans Bike It project. The school holds regular events to promote safe and regular cycling to school. Activities have included bike maintenance sessions, learn to ride days and cycle safety promotions and competitions.

The 20mph zone is part of a wider Safer Routes to School project, which has created better and safer links to the Grange Primary School, Greenacres Primary School and the Grange Secondary School.  Over 900 children attend the three schools, all located off York Road. 82% of children currently walk and cycle to school.

Councillor Malcolm Price, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for transport, said:

“This is a great scheme which will hopefully encourage more parents and children to walk and cycle to school.”

Vernon Bushell, Shropshire Councillor for Harlescott, said:

“I am delighted to see the completion of this project.  It has already been successful in reducing speeds on York Road and I would like to thank everyone involved in this Safer Routes to School project.”

Simon Hey, Head Teacher at Greenacres Primary School, added: 

“It is delightful to see just how much has happened in the past year to promote cycling and walking due to the safety work which has taken place. We would like to thank all of those involved in making these improvements a reality for the benefit of our children and their families. The children’s designs certainly help to remind motorists of why there is a 20mph limit.”

Other measures, introduced as part of the Safer Routes project, include traffic calming on York Road and a new shared use path between Kynaston Road and Rutland.  The project was funded by Shropshire Council and Cycle Shrewsbury (Department for Transport) and supported by Shrewsbury Town Council.