Loughton School is a popular school but it sits on two roads, Ashpole Furlong and Bradwell Road. Both can be very busy especially at school times.

Recently there was an accident in which a mother was hit on her arm by a car while she was walking on the pavement near to the school. She is ok but was very shocked and worried. She is very aware of the difficulties because she is a local resident, parent and scout leader.

The injured resident contacted Local Councillor Zoe Nolan about her experience and concerns.

Cllr Nolan has taken 8 actions to try and improve safety at this popular school.  She has also looked again at safety at a number of other local schools.

Cllr Nolan said, who is Cabinet Member for Children and Families, said: “I was concerned to hear about this accident outside Loughton School. I know that other schools are also in a similar position. That is why I have taken eight actions to make it safer outside schools in Milton Keynes.”

Cllr Zoe Nolan and Milton Keynes Council have:

1. Encouraged schools to engage with the Stars programme – this is an online platform for schools to develop a sustainable, active and safe travel plan. They can keep going with the Stars programme and get bronze, silver and gold as they do more and more on their transport plan such as cycling and walking schemes, parking away from the school gate or sharing lifts. The way children arrive and leave school is carefully monitored with an emphasis on using sustainable ways such as walking or cycling.

In the budget this year Labour put in extra money to promote the Stars scheme to make sure that children are safe outside school that there are good school travel plans in place and that residents are engaged with what the school is doing to keep everyone safe outside the school gate.

A number of schools primary schools -Knowles Primary, Chestnuts Primary, Longmeadow and Olney Middle School and secondary schools- Milton Keynes Academy and Hazeley Academy and SEN school Slated Row have all agreed to work with MK Council this year to introduce the Stars scheme to make a real change in how their children and young people travel to school.

2. Cllr Nolan has also contacted the local Fire Brigade at Great Holm who have also offered to work with the school and they made several visits during congested periods to check that they could still get through to the school and to the neighbouring houses. They could.
3. She visited the school to see the situation for herself and contacted the new acting head teacher who wants to help to get this problem sorted. Children’s safety is a top priority.
4. Asked taxi licensing in Aylesbury to check on taxi drivers whom residents thought were parking dangerously outside school.
5. Worked with the community police officer who is aware of the situation and is monitoring dangerous parking and driving.
6. Cllr Nolan worked with Cabinet colleague for Public Realm, Cllr Emily Darlington, in answering a question at last full council to explain the range of action that MK Council are taking to improve safety outside all schools.
7. Parking enforcement at MK council is taking enforcement action against those parking on double yellow lines near schools.
8. Previously we have acted to successfully across Milton Keynes to stop ice cream and fast food vans parking right outside the school gates at lunch-time and going home time.

Cllr Nolan concluded: “Safety outside Loughton School and other schools across Milton Keynes is an important issue and I am pleased to help improve safety for everyone.”