Hundreds sign petition for 20mph limit outside Thatcham school Options

[nh31]

I live very near Whitelands School and where i agree about the speed limit, i do have to say that a lot of the problems actually start with the parents dropping off/picking up the children. They park literally ANYWHERE causing obstructions which makes driving difficult in some circumstances. I do wonder how anyone could even reach 30 mph near the school because of the selfish parking by many?
I do try not to leave/go home at dropping off picking up time as just getting into my own street is sometimes a challenge in itself. I do wonder where these people live that have signed this petition as i know i and most of my neighbours have not seen it. strange considering we are the local residents.

[Simon Kirby]

Welcome to NewburyToday nh31.

Do you think a 20 mph limit is a good thing? Does the PTA organise a walking bus or anything like that? How far from the school do the children live? More than half a mile?

[Berkshirelad]

A 20 mph speed limit can only be enforced by the use of speed humps (aka traffic calming measures),

It cannot be properly enforced by the Police - even if they wanted to - because none of their speed detection equipment is certified for use at less than 30 mph.

Whilst 20 mph might be a wonderful idea ay school start and end, be careful what you wish for.

Have all other avenues been explored? For example, parking issues, rewarding pupil who walk, etc.

[Berkshirelad]

A 20 mph speed limit can only be enforced by the use of speed humps (aka traffic calming measures),

It cannot be properly enforced by the Police - even if they wanted to - because none of their speed detection equipment is certified for use at less than 30 mph.

Whilst 20 mph might be a wonderful idea at school start and end, be careful what you wish for.

Have all other avenues been explored? For example, parking issues, rewarding pupil who walk, etc.

[biggus_richus]

I live on a street with a 20mph zone. In my opinion, it doesn't work, it's just plain ignored.

In terms of parking, you could photograph offending vehicles and post them to a blog. Rather like what this enterprising individual has done:

Lazy Parents

[Biker1]

Outside St. John's school in Link Road is just as bad at pick up time.
Cars everywhere totally ignoring parking restrictions ironically making it dangerous for the children they are actually trying to protect from walking a short distance.

[Dodgys smarter b...]

Rather like what this enterprising individual has done

This 'enterprising individual' has no idea if the person driving / parking those cars are parents or not do they? It could be a Nanny, or an Au-pair or grandparents, insured friends, aunts, uncles, elder brothers or sisters. But this 'enterprising individual' knows all this do they?
Showing the number plates is also fraught with danger as the car may have just been bought or sold and people might get the wrong idea about a previous owner. Or does this 'enterprising individual' know the recent history of the cars photographed as well?

What a clever little sausage they must be.

[On the edge]

Actually, this is a symptom of a much bigger issue that Politicians simply don't seem to want to address. Its all too easy to castigate parents who live very busy lives. I haven't had school age children for a good decvade, but employ many that do.

The issue is that because of the very poor public transport provision, the effects of providing choice in education - as opposed to dictat and the 1950's access arrangements at our school locations, we have a massive problem.

Quite rightly parents need to 'drop or collect and go' very quickly. However, there is generally no provision to enable them to do that.

Rather than unenforecable traffic regulations and complainst about bad parking - lets have some postive answers. Sufficient short term bays, decent school transport etc. etc.

Appreciate some of us walked miles to get to school when we were young - but that made us so tired we didn't seem to learn much!!

[Guest_xjay1337_*]

I live on a street with a 20mph zone. In my opinion, it doesn't work, it's just plain ignored.

In terms of parking, you could photograph offending vehicles and post them to a blog. Rather like what this enterprising individual has done:

Lazy Parents

Yeah, the 20mph on Station Road by Kennet School isn't. I obey it because my car scrapes the speedbumps if I don't, but I've been overtaken doing 15-20mph by many angry, impatient, bus *****ing people, most of whom are either Taxi drivers or for some unfortunate reason bought a Peugot. Perhaps that's why they're angry.

Speedbumps though are very annoying. They don't make you slow down unless you have a lowered car and care about it. Everyone else I know, myself excluded, flys down there at 25-35mph.

[Berkshirelad]

Rather like what this enterprising individual has done:

Lazy Parents

The first picture may well be irrelevant. As it costs money to advertise and make TROs (Traffic Regulations Order), many - if not most - yellow zig-zag lines outside schools are unenforceable in W.Berks

[spartacus]

As it costs money to advertise and make TROs, many - if not most - yellow zig-zag lines outside schools are unenforceable in W.Berks

Total rubbish....

[user23]

I think the original poster was making the point that the majority of signatories weren't residents, but parents some of whom cause the problem in the first place.

[nh31]

Thank you for the welcome.
I believe that slowing down near any school can only be a good thing. But to be honest would road humps really work? They certainly don't in Northfield. Also where would these humps start and end? Sagecroft Road as many will know is a very long road, and would west Berks council really pay to do the whole road? Hmmm
Anyway the answer to your question about the walking buses etc is I have never witnessed this so I believe not. I just know that it's near impossible to enter leave my street at dropping/picking up time. Due to abandoned cars everywhere which as I have said I believe is where the danger starts. Address this first and this battle will be have fought I think.

[part time]

It's all too easy to criticise people for being lazy and parking inconsideratley...................because they are!

[NWNREADER]

Outside St. John's school in Link Road is just as bad at pick up time.

Must be bad - St Johns is in Old Newtown Road!!!!

[NWNREADER]

The first picture may well be irrelevant. As it costs money to advertise and make TROs (Traffic Regulations Order), many - if not most - yellow zig-zag lines outside schools are unenforceable in W.Berks

Would you like to test that statement? A single TO was done for all the sites in one hit. Economical and fully enforceable....

[NWNREADER]

Thank you for the welcome.
I believe that slowing down near any school can only be a good thing. But to be honest would road humps really work? They certainly don't in Northfield. Also where would these humps start and end? Sagecroft Road as many will know is a very long road, and would west Berks council really pay to do the whole road? Hmmm
Anyway the answer to your question about the walking buses etc is I have never witnessed this so I believe not. I just know that it's near impossible to enter leave my street at dropping/picking up time. Due to abandoned cars everywhere which as I have said I believe is where the danger starts. Address this first and this battle will be have fought I think.

Good points.
For years it has been 'known' most road safety problems in the vicinity of schools are caused by the parents. It is they who park all over the place, they who drive too fast for the conditions, they who do not strap the children in.
The parking actually creates a far more effective speed reduction than any hump, cushion, etc.
The walking buses work, as long as the volunteers are as happy to walk in the coldest winter as they are in the warmth of summer, and new recruits turn up each year. Sadly (I believe) the co-ordinator post at WBC was done away with.
Too often Head Teachers care little about the chaos outside their gates - not their problem - so engaging in activities to educate the parents can be difficult.
If there is parking on the zig-zags or obstruction of driveways etc, then I'd be on to the Neighbourhood Policing Team for some visibility. The effect does not last for ever, but the occasional look works as well.

[Simon Kirby]

Good points.
For years it has been 'known' most road safety problems in the vicinity of schools are caused by the parents. It is they who park all over the place, they who drive too fast for the conditions, they who do not strap the children in.
The parking actually creates a far more effective speed reduction than any hump, cushion, etc.
The walking buses work, as long as the volunteers are as happy to walk in the coldest winter as they are in the warmth of summer, and new recruits turn up each year. Sadly (I believe) the co-ordinator post at WBC was done away with.
Too often Head Teachers care little about the chaos outside their gates - not their problem - so engaging in activities to educate the parents can be difficult.
If there is parking on the zig-zags or obstruction of driveways etc, then I'd be on to the Neighbourhood Policing Team for some visibility. The effect does not last for ever, but the occasional look works as well.

You mention the Council and the Head, but I see it more as a problem for the Board of Governors to take some corporate social responsibility.

[On the edge]

What do we want to do? Get kids to school and parents to work on time? Is this 2011 or 1951?

[Rusty Bullet]

Quite rightly parents need to 'drop or collect and go' very quickly. However, there is generally no provision to enable them to do that.

Here's a thought.

How about they leave home earlier?. You know, get more organised, set the alarm clock 10 mins earlier, all that good stuff that parents are supposed to do.