Pupils slammed for using alley rat-run
Bassett Court alley
A LEIGHTON pensioner is calling on safety experts to block access to an alley used as a children’s rat-run to school after a series of near-misses with moving vehicles.
Incredibly grandmother Brenda Wilkinson has been met with hostility from parents after doing her best to stop their children being knocked down as they use a passageway under flats in Bassett Court as a shortcut to Mary Bassett Lower School.
The alley takes pupils into a slip road next to the school which then sees children negotiating around parked cars, parents dropping off youngsters and delivering vehicles and coaches reversing.
The school is more than aware of the congestion and dangers surrounding the Bassett Road site and has repeatedly warned parents not to drop their children off close to the premises. Instead some parents are parking in nearby Doggett Street and sending their children through the alley on their way to the school gates.
Mrs Wilkinson has become so concerned that she called experts from the Safer Roads Foundation in London who sent technical director Peter Holmes to inspect the site.
His nine page report: “Mrs Wilkinson is responsible, as its owner, for the central sections of the private courtyard in front of her property. This small area to the rear of Bassett Court allows other residents access to their parking bays.
“There is a narrow private alleyway which connects with this courtyard which is routibnely used as a cutthrough by pupils.
“Due to a wall between the two parts of Bassett Court a child running through from Doggett Street would not be seen by a reversing car until entering the parking courtyard.
“This presents safety implications with residents vehicles often on the move at the start of the day.
“It is recommended that a small child-proof gate be installed at the southerly end of this narrow alleyway.”
Mrs Wilkinson, who has campaigned for improved road safety around the school grounds said: “On a daily basis my heart is in my mouth as I observe the dangers to the children attending Mary Bassett School.
“I cannot help but observe these dangers because they are also attended by the noise of vehicles reversing into the entrance to the private courtyard and also the noise of children squealing in delight as they run through the courtyard in front of my cottage while parents/carers cars are reversing or residents/visitors are driving very fast into the courtyard around a blind corner.
“I have been raising concern since early 2008 and in desperation seeking peace of mind and I am now raising my concerns with the LBO. Either the school or Central Beds Council needs to take responsibility for the problems before a child is seriously hurt or even killed either in the lane or in the courtyard.”
In a newsletter to parents in January Mary Bassett headteacher Deborah Pargeter warned parents to park away from the school after a child received a glancing blow from a car.
She added: “The slip road, formerly Bassett Court should never be used for parking or turning.”
Councillor Budge Wells, executive member for sustainable communities services at Central Beds Council said: “I do sympathise with residents. However there is simply nothing we can do as this alley way is open to the public.”
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Monday 21 May 2012
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