Welwyn Hatfield MP Grant Shapps met with the headteacher of St Michael’s Woolmer Green Primary School and parents of children at the school, to hear their concerns about the 40mph speed limit outside the school gates.
The section of the London Road outside the school is on a hill with a tight central crossing point for pedestrians. The school and concerned parents believe the 40mph limit is therefore too high. Grant was shown more than 20 statements of concern from parents, staff and pupils alike, and will be liaising with the local authorities to ensure that their voices are heard.
Grant said: “It is easy to see how, perhaps with a pushchair or buggy, it feels extremely exposed and dangerous with traffic racing past at 40mph. I am working with Cllr Richard Smith in contacting the County Council to ask them for an update on survey work to see what steps they can take to bring the situation under control. I will work with the school and parents to push for a resolution to this. The safety of the children must be the first priority.”
Jan Martin, headteacher at St Michael’s school said: “Our hope is that Grant Shapps will be able to add a little more weight to parents’ concerns and we would like to thank him for taking the time to talk to us and see the issue we have.”
Neil Hughes, a parent with children at the school who helped to arrange the visit with Grant, said: “It was great that Grant came up to see how dangerous the road is, especially outside the school.”
