by Sandy Thwaite - Parish Councillor
So get involved here……
Wickhambrook Parish Council is looking to recruit local residents to a working group to explore all of the options for road safety specifically in the vicinity of Wickhambrook Primary Academy.
You may be aware we had a road traffic accident (RTA) involving a young child in September 2018. The child fortunately made a good recovery but road safety in that area has been very topical ever since and has been discussed on a number of occasions by councillors, residents and the teachers and children in the school.
The Parish Council has collated detailed traffic survey data on the road outside the school and work has continued in order to try and resolve the issue. They understand the importance of this problem and are determined to try to find a solution to the parking for parents/guardians dropping off and collecting their children from the school.
I am sure everyone would agree that this could make a significant contribution not only to the safety of our school children, their health and wellbeing, but will also likely reduce the congestion on the B1063 in the vicinity of the school and shop hill during these periods.
The school and its children are currently engaged in trying to reach a solution, and the parish council have offered considerable support to raise everyone’s concerns. It is important though that any work undertaken to try to resolve the issue, needs to fully engage with all the relevant people including:
- Local residents.
- Stakeholders (Wickhambrook Primary Academy teachers, governors and parents);
- Suffolk County Council and West Suffolk Council (localities and communities);
For these reasons, the Parish Council feels the best option is to separate this work from the ordinary meetings of the Parish Council and establish a working group specifically to carry out more research and report back to the Parish Council at its monthly meetings. This will ensure this issue gets the necessary focus and hopefully an agreeable resolution benefitting everyone in the village.
It is intended that the working party will include:
- Parishioners with a keen interest or skills set which might add to the work of the group.
- Representatives from Wickhambrook Primary Academy:
- Teachers
- Parents
- Governors
- Local councillors
- Representative from Wickhambrook Memorial Social Centre
- Representative (s) from Suffolk County Council
- Representative (s) from West Suffolk Council (Localities and Communities)
The group will be self-supporting, and the intention would be to set up some initial meetings to agree the way forward and then meet once month at dates and times set by the group. We would intend to use the village hall wherever possible.
A regular update will be given to the Parish Council at their monthly meetings. Any proposed correspondence or publicity could then be quickly approved by the Parish Council.
The intention would be for the group to start as quickly as possible and have an end date of September 2020, unless the Parish Council considers that there is further significant work or research which may contribute to any proposal which the Parish Council could consider.
We would really welcome anyone who is interested and prepared to give their commitment to the meetings and finding a solution for this issue in our village.
If you would like to participate, please contact Councillor Sandy Thwaite at the email address below. Sandy would be delighted to hear from you and get you involved in our group. You can also note your interest in being part of the group with the Parish council Clerk, Hilary Workman.
We look forward to hearing from you!