Consultant role for mum campaigning for pedestrian crossings outside every school
A MUM-of-three from Lincoln who wants a pedestrian crossing outside every school in Britain may soon be seeing early signs of success.
As reported in the Echo, Rosanne Kirk's campaign began with calls for a crossing at St Hugh's Primary School in Woodfield Avenue, Lincoln, where she is a governor.
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Rosanne Kirk.
But after gathering a legion of supporters, Mrs Kirk, 40, wants the same facilities at every school in Lincolnshire and across the nation.
She is to be included in a list of consultants approached by Lincolnshire County Council in drawing up its third local transport plan.
The plan is being prepared and will lay down key over-arching transport strategies to run for five years from 2011/12.
Mrs Kirk said she was optimistic about the development.
Mrs Kirk, who works in Debenhams and lives in Winthorpe Road, Doddington Park, said: "Part of the consultation is to see whether or not there could be a pedestrian crossing outside St Hugh's and hopefully elsewhere in Lincolnshire.
"In March, Gillian Merron and I went to a meeting with highways and she asked if we could be part of the consultation happening in July.
"We are already doing a local petition for crossings in Woodfield Avenue and we are getting good support from parents and residents.
"Also, I am now getting helpers in London and York and hopefully Derbyshire and Oxfordshire for the national campaign where we hope to get a 100,000 signature petition to Parliament."
Divisional highways manager Alan Aistrup told Mrs Kirk in an e-mail: "I have forwarded your details to our accessibility and policy team who will be heading the consultation on the third local transport plan for Lincolnshire, to ensure your group is included in the list of consultants."
Transport plans are drawn up by highways authorities such as Lincolnshire County Council, which set out ways of making transport more integrated and sustainable.
Paul Coathup , assistant director for highways and transport, said during the consultation, officials would be looking at how congestion, collisions and pollution could be cut in Lincolnshire.
He said: "The plan is designed to make sure residents have safe and reliable transport in a way that supports our economy and protects our environment."
Mrs Kirk's campaign has received a further boost as her campaign's name "Kids Cross Safely" now appears on a former Lincolnshire fire engine, alongside the names of other good causes including the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance.
PC Coaches has re-sprayed the 1981 Bedford engine which is taken to public events such as shows and galas in a fundraising and publicity capacity.
9 Comments
by Rose, Lincoln
Thursday, June 17 2010, 12:44PM
“Halibut, i agree the zebra crossing outside Monks Abbey school is pointless drivers just don't stop. The only time they do stop is if there is a pretty blonde waiting to cross!”
by halibut, Lincoln
Wednesday, June 16 2010, 3:07PM
“Gem, I absolutely agree. My kids go to Monks Abbey and I was astounded that they installed a zebra crossing instead of a pelican crossing!”
by rick, lincoln
Wednesday, June 16 2010, 7:03AM
“and how many parents are to just lazy to walk there kids to school instead using the car for a half mile journey.
also there is a fair few schools with pedestrian/zebra crossings outside and the amount of school kids that run straight across the road without using the crossing is silly.
i nearly see 2 kids get hit by a car at st catherines near south common all because they couldnt be bothered to wait for a green man.”
by Gem, lincoln
Tuesday, June 15 2010, 11:15PM
“you have to agree with all sides, school run mums are a nightmare, parking on the zigzags, kids dont actually look when crossing the roads half of the time and just go for it, but motorists are very dangerous and dont stick to the rules of the road. theres a crossing outside the monks road primary, and ive seen kids standing there waiting patiently to cross while 3 or 4 cars have sped past them (on the black and white crossings). its chaotic at rush hour on both school drop off and pick up cos theres a 'lollypop man' and theres so many kids leaving and going to school that the traffics queued right down monks road!! because of both of these i think if a crossing is put outside a school it should be of the 'wait for the green man' variety as this would ensure the traffic remains flowing, but will stop for the red light and kids can cross safely as long as they wait for the green man. i think Perth in Western Australia has a great idea aswell, there are 30mph (km/h equivalent) road signs, but with a smaller 20mph sign underneath, and when the yellow lights flash to indicate school leaving or arriving times, then the lower speed limit is in force, but when schools finished for the day or night the lights stop flashing and the quicker speed limit is in place.”
by Linda, Lincoln
Tuesday, June 15 2010, 11:08PM
“I would be willing to sign the petition, my son goes to Leslie Manser and crossing Woodfield Ave is a nightmare, we really need a crossing.”
by anon, lincoln
Tuesday, June 15 2010, 10:13PM
“Unfortunately it is not just a case of having pedestrian crossings. Whilst this may help it also requires changes from pedestrians and car drivers alike. Yes there are some pedestrians who do not cross roads properly but there are equally as many car drivers who cannot stick to the speed limit. We live in the Brant road area and have to walk past the garage which has a particularly narrow footpath on one side. The one thing that we get sick and tired of is the number of vehicles that cannot drive at an appropriate speed. The limit is 30 mph. Not 31 or 32 or 45 as some seem to think. Do these selfish people have any idea what it must be like to kill or injure a pedestrian with a motor vehicle? What is more worrying is that when you look at some of the offenders I do not believe they really care. They probably think they will get away with a fine and a suspended sentence. It is about time we had further reductions in speed at times when children are going to and from school with heavier penalties for those that chose to ignore the speed limit. Regardless of who is right or wrong, surely this would reduce the potential for accidents and what may well be the next fatality waiting to happen. If the Police have not got the resources I will gladly stand with a speed gun free of charge every night of the week.”
by R Bray, Lincoln
Tuesday, June 15 2010, 7:41PM
“Can i suggest that Mrs kirk starts educating school kids how to cross a road properly to begin with, and not just believe the driver is always wrong if you get hit when in the road in the first place. I also agree with chris about the sheer volume of parked cars picking up kids from schools which is diabolical and obstructive to both children crossing roads and drivers too.”
by chris, Lincoln
Tuesday, June 15 2010, 6:10PM
“can't see how a crossing willl make any difference - there'll be people carriers/4x4's parked across it come school picking up and dropping off time, just like there is on the zig zags and double yellows outside most schools now.
it's not the general motoring public that's the problem it's the 'school run mums'”
by Heather, Lincoln
Tuesday, June 15 2010, 12:22PM
“You wonder why having a pedestrian crossing outside every road by school gates had not been done as a matter of course.”