Council works to create School Safety Environment Zone for Greenmeadow Primary

Swindon Borough Council are currently working to add and refresh further safety measures to the roads outside Greenmeadow Primary School.

The council have started works at Greenmeadow Primary this week, and have deployed a team to help improve safety on the roads outside the school. 

Workmen have been busy burning off the existing yellow road markings, then cleaning and prepping the area to be ready for fresh markings to be laid. 

As well as line painting on the road leading up to the school's entrance (Pen Close), the workers are also laying fresh yellow markings on the roads within the surrounding area. 

Additonal safety measures that will be completed later this month (during the half-term holiday) include:

• Laying markings for a 'School Keep Clear' zone
• Installing school warning and school keep clear signs 
• Updating the existing flashing amber lights by the school 

These works at Greenmeadow are part of the Swindon Borough Council School Safety Environment Zones initiative, that is being carried out across Swindon.

Kate Mackinnon, Headteacher at Greenmeadow Primary said: "At Greenmeadow, like all schools in Swindon, we take the safety of our children extremely seriously. We are pleased to be working with Swindon Borough Council who have invited us to be part of the Safer Schools initiative.

"We are lucky to have locations close to school where people can park which would mean that cars don’t need to come into Pen Close and we thank the local businesses for their support with this. Additionally, it is fantastic to see so many children now walking, walking from a bus, cycling or scooting in, which is a great healthy way to start the day. We are looking forward to having the works completed at the front of the school in the upcoming weeks."

Pupils at Greenmeadow have also been designing their own road safety banners to decorate the school gates. A variety of different designs are displayed on the left hand side of the school's main entrance. 

Swindon Council Leader, and Ward Councillor, David Renard said: "I have been working with Greenmeadow School, highways officers and local residents over many years to continually improve the safety of children in the vicinity of the school. The latest review will add further measures in the form of a School Safety Environment Zone.

"This follows a visit to the school during the morning drop off when I discussed the issues with the Headteacher, highways officers, and Cllr Jackson. I welcome these improvements which will make children safer at the key times of day."

He added: "The council takes the safety of children very seriously outside all schools and measures have been put in place over many years to continually improve matters. The work the council is doing on School Safety Environment Zones (SSEZs), such as the one at Greenmeadow school, is the latest iteration. We do need parents to play their part in children's safety especially those driving their children to and from the school."