North Wootton Academy parents are worried for children’s safety due to speeding drivers

Village parents are living in fear that their children could be hurt due to speeding drivers travelling past their school.

They say changes need to be made to speed limits on roads outside North Wootton Academy.

It has led to a campaign starting to push for lower speed limits and other safety measures to protect pupils from being at risk of harm.

One of the parents, Laura Gray, says “enough is enough” and has called for traffic calming measures, including a 20mph limit.

“We know from experience that most drivers are not doing 30mph,” she said.

"Some of you may be worried about the noise of traffic calming measures but the sound of a child getting knocked down and killed will haunt your ears a little longer.

“We want to encourage our children to walk to school but how can we when it’s so dangerous?”

A petition has been launched this year, calling on Norfolk County Council to investigate the situation.

John Crofts, a Liberal Democrat county councillor who represents the Freebridge Lynn ward, said: “This has my full support. Anything that can be done to make it safer for children visiting the school should be explored.”

He has pledged £3,000 of his community funding pot to support a feasibility study to investigate what changes can be made.

He believes a lack of parking spaces around the school makes the situation challenging and said the road is often busy with farming traffic from nearby sugar beet fields.

A spokeswoman for the county council has said the authority is working with villagers to find a solution.

“We are already working closely with the local community and parish council to identify ways to reduce speed in the area,” she said.

“We carefully consider all petitions submitted to us and will take a close look at the details of the request when we receive it.”

Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the Eastern Multi-Academy Trust, which runs the school, added: “As a trust, the safety of our children and colleagues is of the utmost importance.

“There have been ongoing discussions with the local councillors and academy, and we are supportive of any lawful action that ensures the safety of those attending the school and the local community as a whole.

“The academy continues to highlight this important issue through their newsletters and have staff present at drop-off and collection times to ensure that children are safe.

“They also plan to support an initiative with the children checking for those driving above the speed limit in the coming months.

“The academy has held discussions with the parish council and police who have been very supportive and pro-active in attending and issuing tickets where required. This has been of significant benefit in helping to address the issue.”