School creating safety posters after children hit by cars in village

Pupils from Kingswood Primary will be designing and creating posters on speeding and parking which will be displayed in the village. 

It comes after three children while walking home from Katharine Lady Berkeley's were hit by cars in two separate incidents along Wotton Road. 

In one incident, one child was left with a fractured elbow in July. 

Headteacher Wendy Collins from Kingswood Primary said: “We feel that it is vital for our children to gain an awareness of road safety and how to keep themselves safe. 

“We are excited at the prospect of gaining a greater understanding of the benefits and challenges of our local area during Road Safety week.”

Following concerns about road safety, a public meeting was held in August, and residents formed the Kingswood Village Road Safety Group.

The group previously handed a petition directly to Gloucestershire County Council in September calling for urgent action to improve safety. 

Kingswood Primary School is located on the 'dangerous' and 'narrow' Wotton Road (Image: Google Maps)

Sian Blackham parent and member of the safety group said: “We’re delighted to see the Kingswood Primary School engaging with Road Safety Week. 

“It’s so important for children to walk to school – it’s good for their health and the environment.

“Our community really cares about the safety of our children, but we need everyone to play their part. 

“We’re asking all drivers to reduce their speed when driving through the village and to think carefully about where they park to avoid causing an obstruction or hazard.”

Prizes for the best poster designs will be awarded during the whole school assembly at the end of the week.  

Road Safety Week 2023 takes place from November 19 to November 25, and is organised by the charity Brake in collaboration with the Department of Transport's Think! campaign.

Vehicles getting stuck in Wotton Road in Kingswood - pictures from April (Image: Kingswood Parish Council)

Kingswood Village Road Safety Group outside Shire Hall - (L to R) Kate Holton, Liz Kingett, Mary Leonard, Claudia Thorpe, Gemma Page-Groves and Sian Blackham. (Image: Kingswood Village Road Safety Group)