Appeal for pedestrian crossing
DISABLED pupils at Chailey Heritage School are appealing for a pedestrian crossing.
All are wheelchair users, which makes a simple school trip a challenging exercise.
Ironically, because the A272 which runs outside the school is so busy, it has proved simpler to travel further afield than simply cross the road to the beautiful stretch of common opposite.
On one occasion it took 35 minutes to take 25 students safely across the road – by which time the lesson was almost over.
This means the school either has to use a fleet of vehicles to cross the road, or depend on a police escort. Unfortunately, because the police are so busy they have only been able to attend on three out of the 10 occasions they were needed.
During the summer the school organised a petition calling for a pedestrian crossing from Chailey Heritage to the North Common.
The petition has been presented to the Transport and Environment Committee of East Sussex County Council. Pupil Becky Linstead made an impassioned speech which so impressed the committee's Cllr Matthew Lock that he is making the crossing a priority. He is hoping to come to the school to inspect the road, and potential crossing site, on Friday, December 4.
According to council figures, the average hourly daytime vehicle flow on the A272 has been determined from a traffic count as 830. This means the site meets the critieria for a crossing.
Becky, 16, said pupils deserved the chance to enjoy the wonderful natural asset on their doorstep.
Using a VOCA – Voice Output Communication Aid – she said: "Due to the location of the school on the busy A272, pupils can only leave the school site by vehicle. School outings take a great deal of arranging.
Unlike other people, we are not able to just decide to make the most of some good weather and go out and enjoy it.
"We are a residential school so many of us stay at the school during the week, at the weekend and over the holidays. We are also a registered Children's Home so some pupils live at Chailey Heritage all year. As you can imagine, only being able to leave your home when a vehicle is available and free is very restricting and frustrating."
She continued: "With a crossing outside our school we would have safe access to the common. We would be able to go for walks and take part in activities and would have the opportunity to make use of this wonderful asset which is right on our doorstep. Some of us have never had the privilege to visit the common. The school staff would provide our care and our education would certainly benefit as the trip could be used to support our learning."
Becky added: "We feel strongly that to be denied access to our community would be unfair and wrong. We are asking you for your help."
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Weather for Littlehampton
Thursday 24 May 2012
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