The headteacher of Harrogate Grammar School says a section of Otley Road should be reduced to 20mph to improve safety for schoolchildren.
Harrogate Grammar head says 20mph zone should include Otley Road The headteacher of Harrogate Grammar School says a section of Otley Road should be reduced to 20mph to improve safety for schoolchildren. North Yorkshire Council announced last week that speed limits will be introduced outside seven schools in Harrogate under plans for a “landmark” 20mph zone across Pannal Ash and Oatlands. The move followed repeated calls from headteachers and parents to introduce lower speed limits around schools following high-profile collisions involving vehicles and pedestrians. This included an incident earlier this year that left two schoolchildren in hospital. The seven schools Harrogate Grammar School (HGS), Rossett Acre Primary School, Rossett School, Ashville College, St Aidan’s Church of England High School, Oatlands Junior School and Oatlands Infants School. The 20mph zone by HGS will be introduced on Arthur’s Avenue and its surrounding side roads. But the headteacher of Harrogate’s largest secondary school Neil Renton says the zone should be extended to include the busy Otley Road which is a key route in-and-out of town and currently has a limit of 30mph. A statement was read out on behalf of Mr Renton at a meeting of councillors on the Harrogate & Knaresborough area constituency committee on Thursday. He said:
“I absolutely support the landmark scheme put forward and hope this pioneering initiative will also include Otley Road. A large number of students leaving the site at start and end of school would make it entirely sensible to reduce the speed limit on Otley Road. “Our staff see the need for this daily when supervising children. As a school we fully support reducing the speed limit for the safety of children in our community and hope you will also include Otley Road.”At the same meeting, the headteacher of Western Primary School criticised plans to introduce an uncontrolled crossing on Cold Bath Road. Tim Broad said pupils at the school may not realise that cars do not have to stop for them which could put them in danger. He urged the council to rethink its plans, adding that it was focusing on “economic concerns rather than safety of children”. By Thomas Barrett, Local Democracy Reporter Read more local stories from Your Harrogate here.
Family of teenager killed near Pateley Bridge raise £6,700 in his memory
Harrogate artists unveil stunning festive mural at Harrogate Hospital
Rudding Park wins national award for best short golf course
Tributes paid to former Yorkshire Agricultural Society president
New Tesco officially opens on Skipton Road today
New wine bar to open in Harrogate this weekend
Fat Badger beer club raises £2,000 for Candlelighters
Harrogate cocktail bar named among top 50 in UK
Sunflower Bakery in Harrogate announces closure
Ripon dancing queens scoop multiple awards
Ripon Grammar named double 'parent power' award winners
Appeal following indecent exposure incident in Harrogate
New housing approved despite concerns over flooding and river pollution
Tourism tax would be a 'hammer blow' for hospitality, says Ripon MP
Councillors back plans to make improvements to Ripon Market Place
Harrogate pupils given insight into Donald Trump's White House
Royal recognition for Harrogate care company
Ripon tractor accident survivor appeals for vital blood donations
Spring Water expansion 'wrong choice for Harrogate', say Town Council
Knaresborough school hosts town's first ever laser show
