September 29th 2024.
Parents in Frome, Somerset are expressing their concerns over the recent appearance of colourful road markings outside their children's school. The vibrant designs, which resemble a playground or the game "Twister", were introduced as a way to slow down drivers and make the area safer for kids. However, some parents argue that the markings are confusing and potentially dangerous, especially for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
One parent stated, "I think they are very confusing and dangerous. None of those shapes are in the Highway Code. It's like a playground. They feel that they can jump in the spots, my daughter thought it looked like Twister in the road." It's clear that these markings are causing confusion and concern among parents, who fear that their children may not understand their purpose and could be put in harm's way.
The local council, Frome Town Council, used a grant from the Department for Transport to implement these new measures near Oakfield Academy and Critchill School. However, some parents, like Craig Adams, whose eight-year-old son attends Critchill School, feel that the round dots and other designs are too similar to things found on the playground. He shared, "They're round dots, they mirror a lot of the things in the playground. That can be very difficult for him to understand."
In response to the backlash, Frome Town Council explained that they worked with company Sustrans to design and carry out the project. Cllr Anita Collier stated, "We desperately want to have that feedback. These things can be changed. Sustrans have actually made changes to their designs throughout the country. We know that that's possible." It's reassuring to know that the council is open to making changes based on the community's feedback.
Sustrans, the company responsible for the designs, also released a statement, saying, "Colourful street markings are a common proposal in school street designs. They alert drivers to the fact that there may be people around the street and, as part of a larger package of traffic calming measures, encourage them to slow down." They also mentioned that the designs were created through a collaborative process with the community, including students from the local schools and residents from the surrounding areas.
Overall, while the intentions behind the colourful road markings may have been good, it's important for the council to take into consideration the concerns of parents and make any necessary changes to ensure the safety and well-being of the children in the area. With open communication and collaboration, a solution that satisfies both parties can surely be reached.
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