ANGRY mum Donna Armstrong has spoken out about the dangerous conditions faced by children on their way to and from an Ipswich school.She called Aster Road a "place waiting for death" after her ten-year-old son Devin was hit by a car on his way home from Chantry Junior School.

By Victoria Knowles

ANGRY mum Donna Armstrong has spoken out about the dangerous conditions faced by children on their way to and from an Ipswich school.

She called Aster Road a "place waiting for death" after her ten-year-old son Devin was hit by a car on his way home from Chantry Junior School.

Although Devin only suffered cuts and bruises Mrs Armstrong said this should serve as a warning to other parents.

"My son crossed the road in front of a large lorry carrying another car. He was at fault because he should not have walked out but when children are coming out of school eager to get home they are always in a hurry. He stepped out and it was too late.

"This road suffers greatly from congestion with speeding and cars parked illegally making the road extremely dangerous. I just want to protect the next child who crosses that road in a hurry. I would like to see speed bumps and a traffic warden patrolling the area to stop people parking dangerously. I can understand people dropping children off on their way to work but some parents drive just round the corner which adds to the congestion."

The mum from Sorrell Close, added: " We were without a lollipop person last year for weeks and all this adds to the problem."

Head teacher at Chantry Junior School, Sarah Turner, said: " Most of the children live within walking distance of the school but it's difficult to get them to walk. Parents seem to think they have the right to drop their children right outside the school which they do but it causes so much congestion and it's so dangerous.

"We are aware of the problem but we don't know what to do to make it better. Our community beat officer Pc Tony Quinton has been down before with three or four traffic wardens. They didn't issue tickets but they reminded parents of the road markings.

"It improved things for about a fortnight but then it was back to Wacky Races again."

Mrs Turner added that the large number of pupils coming into the school from outside the catchment area to use special needs and other facilities intensified the problem as taxis would come right into the grounds to pick them up. The school had looked into opening another entrance point to ease congestion but planning regulations had ruled out this possibility.

The head teacher continued: " We have explored different avenues over the years and the governors are very concerned about it but there's little we can do. If parents continue to park there they run the risk of getting a parking ticket.

"We are constantly suggesting to them to find an alternative but we can't insist."