Celebrations as 20mph zone to be implemented near St Helen’s Primary School in Ipswich
Young campaigners calling for a lower speed limit near St Helen's Primary School in Ipswich - Credit: Archant
Campaigners have succeeded in getting the speed limit reduced near an Ipswich school after an eight-month battle.
(L-R) Emma Driver and Mandy Gaylard outside St Helen's Primary School in Ipswich. Picture: Suffolk County Council - Credit: Suffolk County Council
Suffolk County Council (SCC) has agreed to make parts of the busy highway surrounding St Helen’s Primary School, based in Woodbridge Road, 20mph.
The decision comes after more than 1,000 parents and worried residents signed a petition last year calling for the change.
The request was initially turned down by SCC, but it has now been accepted due to “exceptional circumstances”.
The appeal was instigated by Emma Driver, who has three children who walk to the school.
She said: “I started the petition last summer because I had lost count of the number of near misses that I saw along this stretch of road near the school.
“It really was just a matter of time before there was a serious accident, so I knew I had to do something.
Most Read
- 1 Travellers pitch up at park in Ipswich
- 2 Ipswich Music Day 2022: All you need to know
- 3 Ipswich family's visa nightmare leaves them fearing separation
- 4 Jailed in Suffolk: The criminals put behind bars this week
- 5 Teenage moped driver arrested in Ipswich after failing drug test
- 6 Police launch appeal to identify man after incident in Ipswich
- 7 Suffolk DJ 'couldn't believe' call to perform before Diana Ross
- 8 Driver blamed Amazon training for 13 speeding offences in Suffolk
- 9 Animal sex charges against Kesgrave vet dropped, but child images admitted
- 10 Ipswich Microshops celebrate 'whirlwind' of a first year
“I’m so pleased that after such hard work and so many setbacks, we have been able to achieve this excellent result.”
Ms Driver also thanked Suffolk county councillor Mandy Gaylard, who has fought the case with the authority and submitted a special report to the speed limit panel after the first rejection.
Speaking on the win, Ms Gaylard said: “After a great deal of work and perseverance among all those involved with this campaign, I am absolutely delighted that we have been successful.
“I look forward to the day that we can all officially unveil the 20mph zone near St Helen’s Primary together to mark the end of this journey.”
SCC’s policy states that class A or B roads can not be reduced to 20mph unless there are “exceptional circumstances”.
Woodbridge Road is an A road and nearby St Helen’s Street is a B road.
Colin Noble, leader of SCC, said this was why the petitioners’ request was turned down to begin with.
He added: “Suffolk Highways advised that a case would need to be put to SCC’s speed limit panel to establish if there were exceptional circumstances. A case was subsequently put to the panel which was agreed, given the urban nature of these roads and their significant pedestrian use.”
