White Horse News Your local family run community newspaper

Issue 493 – Matravers pupils campaign for safer road access

Leading Matravers pupils Diana Chard and George Flood are campaigning to make access to the school safer for all.

Head boy and head girl; George and Diana contacted the Westbury Area Board to express their concerns about traffic congestion along the narrow Springfield Road where Matravers is sited.
“It’s an accident waiting to happen and there have already been near misses” said George.
Now the pair have been given the opportunity to meet with Wiltshire Council highways officers and get a copy of the detailed report that followed investigations into the issue four years ago.
“We are obviously very keen to work with the school and would welcome their views about how this long-term issue can be solved,” said local councillor Russell Hawker, who also chairs the area board.
Solutions suggested so far have ranged from turning the road into a shared surface for both pedestrians and traffic, to moderating traffic direction at certain peak times.
The school is already doing all it can to keep everyone safe – such as teaching staff being on duty outside the school at specific times, and discouraging private cars from using the narrow Springfield Road.
Diana, who is hoping to study philosophy at university, thinks a one- way system would be the answer.
“We are really pleased to be working with the council on this very important issue and hope we can get a solution that suits everyone,” she said.
Highways officers are due to attend the school this week for a site visit with George and Diana.
A verbal update will be presented at the next meeting of the Westbury Area Board on February 11th at Heywood Village Hall at 7.00pm.