Schools in Cheshire East to benefit from improved road safety

Residents in Mobberley and High Legh, Macclesfield and Scholar Green will see an increase in safety on roads surrounding primary schools, thanks to funding from David Keane police and crime commissioner (PCC) for Cheshire.

Seven schools from three community policing areas in Cheshire East have been successful in their applications for funding from the Commissioner’s Community Policing fund. 

In Mobberley and High Legh, funds will be used to purchase parking buddies signs to be positioned on the roads surrounding schools in the area.

Working in partnership with schools and the parish council, the PCSO will use the cut-out signs in the shape and size of primary aged children to educate parents and guardians on how to park safely. 

The signs will provide a visual representation of the dangers our young people face when people park in inconsiderate ways. They will include safety messages and reminders to think before parking.

Similarly, in Parkroyal Community School in Macclesfield, they will use their funds to purchase signage and banners which will display warning messages and reminders to park safely and consider young peoples’ safety.

The signs and messages will be designed by the pupils at the school and it is hoped that they will alert parents and guardians of the dangers for young people and encourage them to make better choices.

Odd Rode community policing team will be working with four primary schools and one specialist school in and around the Scholar Green area to purchase road safety teaching kits aimed at children.

The teaching kits will consist of traffic signs, hi-visibility jackets and road crossing mats.  These resources will then be used to deliver interactive workshops and quizzes to children in school. 

Children will receive certificates when they complete the workshop and the workshops will be design and delivered jointly by the dedicated PCSO and teachers from the schools.

All the schemes focus on improving safety outside the school grounds and look to educate drivers of the dangers for children. 

All of those involved will work alongside their dedicated PCSO to raise awareness of the dangers, educate and inform parents, guardians and children on how they can play their part in keeping everyone safe.

PCC David Keane said: “Road safety is a big concern for us all.  Schools are busy places especially during drop-off and pick-up times with parking being one of the biggest concerns.

“Parents and guardians often don’t realise how their parking impacts on others and the reduced visibility it gives to other road users and young people trying to cross the road safely.

“These projects are a great example of how I wanted my new community police fund to work.  It’s about looking at a local area, identifying the biggest issue and coming up with a solution together to achieve the biggest impact.”

The Community Police Fund links directly to the recently launched initiative to increase police visibility in every community by providing a dedicated Police Constable (PC) and Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) for all 122 areas. 

The fund has been developed using money seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act (PoCA) 2002 and looks to reinvest it back into communities.

Pictured - PCC David Keane on a road safety operation with Cheshire Police.