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20

Jun 2023

Last Updated: 20/06/2023
Transport
Transport

Accident reignites safety concerns near Harrogate schools

by John Plummer

| 20 Jun, 2023
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A road accident this afternoon has reignited safety concerns for children walking to school in Harrogate.

A red Fiesta mounted the pavement on Yew Tree Lane — the same street where 15-year-old Rossett School students Fraser and Reuben were taken to hospital with serious injuries following a collision with a vehicle in February.

No further details of today's incident are known — the Stray Ferret has asked North Yorkshire Police to provide some information.

But the sight of a car on the pavement prompted the father of one of the teenagers who was injured in February to get in touch to say it reinforced the need for safer roads around schools.

He said:

"A lot of people are campaigning for a 20 mph speed limit on roads near schools.
"The issue feels very close to home when I see something like this so near to where my son's accident took place."


The Yew Tree Lane area is particularly busy because it caters for children attending three secondary schools — Ashville College, Harrogate Grammar School and Rossett School – as well as primary schools, nurseries and pre-schools.

But the parent said 20 mph "should be the limit outside all schools", including small village primary schools.

A petition calling for a 20 mph limit to be imposed on streets across the south of Harrogate was handed to North Yorkshire Council last month.

Hazel Peacock, who delivered the petition on behalf of the campaigning parents, said the limit would "change people’s attitudes in regard to comfort around walking, cycling and mobility users".




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