8.30 PM Friday 03 September 2010

Corfe Castle school combats speeding

Corfe Castle School Lollipop Lady ‘Stop means stop!’ was the message from Corfe Castle school children last week when they worked with local police to tackle speeding through their village.

After the success of a visit last year Swanage Rural Safer Neighbourhood Team once again visited Corfe Castle First School to deliver an assembly to pupils about the effects of speeding on local communities. The team visited the school on Thursday 22 October 2009, with Rob Camp, Dorset County Council’s senior road safety officer.

The 2009 message from the school is to remind drivers to respect their school crossing and slow down and stop for their lollipop lady, so not to endanger the safety of their Lollipop Lady or children travelling to school.

The visit was held in response to concerns from the school about the issue raised by local residents through PACT (Partners and Communities Together).

After the assembly Safer Neighbourhood Officers, PC Barry Ashdown and PCSO Rebekah Butler, conducted laser speed checks outside the school with children from the school.

Motorists who obeyed the speed limit were then thanked by the children.

The team also launched a competition for the children to design a poster aimed at speeding motorists along the theme of their Lollipop Lady. All entries will eventually be displayed on the railings outside the school.

PCSO Butler said: “This followed the successful initiative that we held last year and through PACT we have discovered that speeding and nuisance driving is a significant concern for many local residents.

 

“Speeding affects the children on a daily basis since it occurs on the road outside the school and they are committed to tackling it. If drivers aren’t stopping it puts the children crossing the road and their Lollipop Lady in danger.

“The participation of the children had a profound impact on drivers and they will remember the message given to them by the children.”