Speed limit cut near primary school
Busy roads close to a primary school in Lower Gornal will have their speed limits cut in a bid to boost safety for pupils and their families.
Limits will be curbed on roads around Straits Primary School as part of the plans by Dudley Council.
A plan was due to be signed off today backing the proposals tabled as part of the council's Safer Routes to School scheme.
A consultation was held with ward members, police, the primary school and residents affected at the end of last year.
The limit will be reduced by 30mph to 20mph along roads including Longfellow Road, Wordsworth Road and Melton Crescent.
Original plans also proposed creating speed bumps along roads along stretches of Longfellow Road.
But 22 objections were received against parts of the proposals leading to the scheme being scaled back.
Councillor Hilary Bills, who is in charge of overseeing the scheme, said: "We have listened and we are not putting in the speed bumps.
"The residents said the problems are more to do with parents dropping off children."
A council report to Councillor Bills said: "All objections received commented that parking at school times was a major concern.
"Past experience has shown that by removing all available parking immediately around a school that parents will eventually not adhere to any restrictions at all, without a high level of continued enforcement.
"In addition removing all parking along Longfellow Road would free up the road and in turn possibly increase both 'rat running' and vehicle speeds.
"Further dialogue with the school will take place to see if they are able to advise staff and parents to park considerately or at alternative locations."
Ward councillor Anne Millward welcomed the decision to cut limits while scraping the planned speed bumps.
"We had 20 mph limits in the road years ago but it was taken away," she said.
"You do not need speed bumps down there. They would block driveways up. It is also a bus route.
"I support the safer routes scheme and the 20 mph limit. All they have to do now is enforce it."
Once a decision is taken on the scheme, work will start on erecting signs on the roads in due course.
The project is the latest scheme aiming to curb speed limits and boost safety outside schools in the borough.
Others include roads outside Alder Coppice School, in Sedgley, and Lapal Primary School in Halesowen.
