More 20mph zones destined for Swansea

SCHOOLCHILDREN in Swansea are getting a safety boost with news of new 20mph zones being introduced across the city.

Grants totalling £618,000 for road safety measures means schools near Heol Las, Terrace Road, Cryws Primary, Tregwyr Juniors and Gowerton Comprehensive will all get the slower traffic zones in the coming year.

The money's been funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and the spending plans were approved by Swansea Council's Cabinet and will now be carried out by the Highways Department.

Communities across Swansea are continuing to benefit from the 20mph trend with more than 130 streets designated as slower traffic zones to help reduce the risk of accidents.

Many are directly surrounding schools, providing school children with a safe walking environment to and from their local school.

The latest speed lowering initiative has just been completed in St Thomas to coincide with the opening of the new St Thomas Community School.

Headteacher of St Thomas Community School, Dave Tyler welcomed the lower speed limits. He said, "We welcome any initiative that helps keep children safe within the community."

John Hague, Cabinet Member for the Environment told Cabinet, "The Council has completed a number of these important schemes near schools in the last few years.

"We want to ensure this work continues in order to provide safe walking environments for children when they walk to and from school."

Part of the money will also go towards improving specific sites throughout Swansea where the highest number of traffic related accidents have occurred.

As well as using the funding to make physical changes to some of the city's roads, proposals also include funding successful education based schemes such as the Junior Road Safety Club and Pass Plus Cymru.

The Council has previously subsidised the Pass Plus Cymru scheme which has been developed to provide training to young new drivers between the ages of 17 and 25. The aim of the course is to help reduce the number of accidents or fatalities among this age group.

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