New zebra crossings plans to ensure safer walking routes to six local schools

Children attending six schools in the borough are set to benefit from safer journeys to and from the school gates under proposals for a series of new zebra crossings.

Councillors are poised to approve plans to install new zebra crossings and other associated safety measures on busy pedestrian routes to the schools.

The schools are Putney High, Westbridge Academy, Thomas’s Clapham, Honeywell’s Infant and Junior schools and Hillbrook Primary.

Cabinet Member for Transport Clare Fraser said: “Making routes to and from schools safer for children and parents is a key aim for the council as part of our Future Streets strategy to support walking and cycling.

“We want to encourage more families to make the shift from taking cars on the school run and walk or cycle to and from schools where they’re able to. Making our streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists and reducing road dangers are fundamental elements of that strategy.

“Having listened to parents and teachers and the wider community in and around these schools, we are now proposing zebra crossings at key locations on these pedestrian routes.”

The proposed zebra crossings would be installed at the following locations:

• Broomwood Road in Battersea close to the junction with Wroughton Road - supporting parents and children attending Thomas’s Clapham, plus Honeywell Infants and Junior Schools.

• Franciscan Road in Tooting at the intersection with Brudenell Road and Moring Road – aiding pupils at Hillbrook Primary School, along with Little Hillbrook and Little Beans Childcare.

• Lytton Grove in Putney opposite Putney High School.

• Westbridge Road in Battersea to support children attending Westbridge Academy.

These enhanced crossing facilities would all be sited on roads with high volumes of cut through traffic and are being proposed in response to conversations with schools, local residents and businesses concerned about traffic flows and pedestrian safety at these locations.

The proposals will be discussed by councillors on the transport committee at their meeting on February 1st.