Children at a Great Yarmouth primary school will soon be safer as they make their way to and from their classrooms, when a 20mph limit is put on the surrounding roads.
Groups flocked to support Alderman Swindell Primary School earlier this year, when the issue of safety on Beresford Road and Keyes Avenue was raised by the People of North Yarmouth (PoNY) interest group.
In September, PoNY chairman, Paula Waters-Bunn, said: 'We, along with the North Yarmouth Road Safety Group, [have been] campaigning to get a speed restriction of 20mph around this school for some time, in fact too long.
'This is just not good enough or acceptable any longer. Many people have campaigned for this to happen, with a petition being submitted to County Hall and all we have been told is that there isn't funding.'
Now, since Norfolk County Council could not fund the measures, borough councillors Rachel Jones, Colin Fox and Malcolm Bird have been able to dedicate some or all of their ward budgets toward the cause. This will see flashing signs installed outside the school, with the aim of slowing down speeding motorists.
Cllr Jones said: 'It is great to be a part of a community that will pull together to make their area a safer place to live. I am so glad that there will finally be 20mph signs outside the school and look forward to seeing them in place.'
The signs will be part-time, operating before and after school. But the speed limit will not be enforceable as the signs are advisory.
These distinctions from an enforceable limit keep costs down - the installation will cost £4000 - as a legal order is then not necessary.
It is thought that an enforceable limit would be much more expensive, and without funding from the county council this would not be achievable.
Mrs Waters-Bunn said: 'This is an issue that has been tackled without success for far too long. Too many people have tried to get this matter addressed without success, but I am proud to say that PoNY has persevered and worked with all of the local ward councillors to get this project under way.
'This has purely been lead and arranged by PoNY and will be another successful project undertaken by them, once the signs have been installed and are working properly. The North Yarmouth Road Safety Group were also prepared to make a donation, but we were able to meet the cost without their funds, purely from the councillors ward budgets.
'The next project by PoNY is the refurbishment of the local children's play areas, but with no funds available at the council it may take some time, but we will not give in on this matter. North Yarmouth has been neglected for many years and it is time that investment was made to benefit the residents that live here. Onwards and upwards as they say!'
A spokesman for Norfolk County Council said that once the funds were received, the scheme should be due for completion in the current financial year.
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