TIGHTER speed restrictions on roads near Soham's two primary schools have been called for by town councillors.
Members of Soham Town Council's planning committee have asked for a 20mph speed limit to be installed on roads opposite St Andrew's Primary School and The Weatheralls Primary School, as well as other measures to safeguard pupils.
An application wi
ll be made to Cambridgeshire County Council's jointly-funded minor highways scheme, under which parish councils bid against each other for transport improvements in their community.
"It's to protect the children as they're crossing the road," said Cllr Rosemary Aitchison, chairman of the planning committee.
"Some of the traffic speeds past very quickly, particularly at The Weatheralls.
"We have had problems before so, if we can get a limit set outside the schools at 20mph, that would be very beneficial."
Cllr George Ginn said committee members thought it was a good idea to discourage parents from dropping off their children at school, as this is what had created the problem.
"It adds to congestion of traffic on the road outside," he said.
"Everybody wants to safeguard their children these days but if parents walked with their children that would help."
Cllr Anne Pallett added: "There are so many cars dropping their children off that it's becoming a dangerous point.
"There's already a low speed limit into St Andrew's School but people just drop off their children at the roadside. It just gets very busy at school times.
"This restriction is so they don't zoom off."
Under the improvement scheme, each bid is scored on the basis of questions which are marked against a set criteria involving road safety and environment improvement.
The bids with the highest points are successful, with the work being funded jointly by the town or parish council, East Cambridgeshire Council and Suffolk County Council.
The idea was raised when the committee met at the end of last month.
What do you think? Should 20mph limits be set outside the town's schools? Call Kelly Felstead on 01638 564102, email her at kelly.felstead@newmar ketjournal.co.uk or comment via our website at www.newmarketjournal .co.uk
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