A campaign to make drop-offs and pick-ups safer at a school in Reading has hit a delay, amid a debate over what can be done to improve the situation.
There is currently a debate over whether to implement a school street for Southcote Primary School in Silchester Road, Southcote.
School streets work by having volunteers close off a stretch of road during school drop-off and pick-up times to improve safety.
Reading Borough Council’s Labour administration has supported the creation of school streets in Tilehurst, Caversham, West Reading and East Reading.
Silchester Road is one-way only between its junctions with Circuit Lane and Faircross Road.
A petition to create a school street in the road received 104 signatures, and was submitted to the council in May.
Highways officers devised a report on the request to councillors that was presented at a recent meeting.
Speaking at the meeting, Amber Lucas said: “As a resident of the immediate area since 2011, I have observed that the traffic situation has deteriorated since the expansion of the school.
“Residents were assured before construction began that the car park would serve as a safe drop-off point for children, thereby reducing traffic congestion on the one-way Silchester Road, and potential near misses due to kerb mounting and unauthorised parking.
“The car park was expected to provide ample parking for staff and visitors of the school.”
However, the original drop-off point is currently off-limits due to concerns over safety.
Since the coronavirus pandemic, parents and guardians have been instructed to leave their children at the school gates, who are then chaperoned by staff.
Amber then asked whether the council has the authority to enforce a safe drop-off point in the car park if the school street cannot be created.
A report by James Penman, the council’s network services manager, recommended that officers take no further action on the school street at this stage.
But John Ennis, lead councillor for climate strategy and transport, disagreed with that, arguing negotiations with the school and neighbours should continue.
Cllr Ennis (Labour, Southcote), who represents the area, said: “I’ll go back to the school and involve the residents to ask about what we can do to make things better there.
“IE, if we can open up the car park, or if not, what we can do to advertise for a school street.”
Councillors agreed to allow cllr Ennis and council officers to continue negotiations at the traffic management sub-committee meeting on June 11.
