Ilfracombe pupils green for new road crossing

PUPILS made their way to Ilfracombe Junior School in emerald attire on Friday morning to celebrate the opening of a new zebra crossing. Wearing something green to mark their green walk, the children, staff and parents all gathered at the new �16,000 c

PUPILS made their way to Ilfracombe Junior School in "emerald attire" on Friday morning to celebrate the opening of a new zebra crossing.

Wearing something green to mark their "green walk," the children, staff and parents all gathered at the new �16,000 crossing installed on the busy stretch of Highfield Road near the school.

The road can get especially busy and chaotic during the morning school run and crossing was put in by Devon County Council after the need for it was identified in the school's travel plan.

"I'm really pleased to see this feature not only for schoolchildren and their parents but also the residents who live in the vicinity," said Ilfracombe County Councillor Geoff Fowler.

"Highfield Road over the years has become an important inner route, with more traffic using it, so anything that will improve pedestrian safety has to be a step in the right direction.

"I'm also hoping it will encourage mums to use the free car park facility in Oxford Grove when dropping off their youngsters, thereby not cluttering the roads around the school."

Debbie Darke, deputy headteacher at the school, added:

"We would like to thank Devon County Council for its proactive approach in putting up 'go slow' signs designed by our children, road markings and parking restriction notices outside our school, and now this zebra crossing on Highfield Road."

The new crossing is part of the council's aim to reduce deaths and serious injuries on roads in Devon.