Miles Jermy LIVES are at risk unless something is done to tackle traffic problems outside a Gorleston school a head teacher warned this week.Peterhouse Primary head Martin Scott is supporting parents campaigning for improved road safety measures on Magdalen Way.

Miles Jermy

LIVES are at risk unless something is done to tackle traffic problems outside a Gorleston school a head teacher warned this week.

Peterhouse Primary head Martin Scott is supporting parents campaigning for improved road safety measures on Magdalen Way.

Protests have been held during the last few days in a bid to highlight the dangers for children during the morning and afternoon school run.

Mr Scott joined a group of parents and pupils on Monday to support calls for action to be taken while the school is shut during the next year for a �3.5m rebuild.

“Drivers regularly ignore the hazard lines outside and park in front of what is a pedestrian access to the school,” he said. “The entrance is atrocious; there are no safety barriers or speed limit signs immediately in front of the gate.

“Cars come past very fast or are often double parked making the road impassable and there needs to be a zebra crossing or speed bumps. We have raised these issues with the county council and asked for a lollipop lady.

“There are nine months to do something about this and prevent a major accident before the school re- opens.”

Police community support officers called to the scene promised parents speed checks would be mounted and a meeting held to look into parents' concerns

Carol Breward, whose eight-year old daughter Kelsey attends the school, has helped organise the protests.

She said: “This is an accident waiting to happen, drivers swerve round parked cars - there is nothing to stop kids running out of the gate and straight across the road. There are plenty of other parking spaces nearby and all we want is for people to be more considerate to protect the children.”

The school has completed a travel plan with the county council to encourage more children to walk to school.

A council spokesman said: “Peterhouse Primary is in the middle of a residential area - so many children brought to school by car could easily switch to walking or cycling. Parents' reluctance is often because of perceived dangers on the road. Ironically, this is often because of congestion caused by the parents themselves at the beginning and end of the school day.”

The project will amalgamate the first and middle schools on the middle school site. All pupils will move to the first school site while the nine-to-12 month project was underway. Extra mobile classrooms will be drafted in to cope.