Mum to start petition amid fears for school children's safety at north Leeds Ring Road junction

A WORRIED mother is set to start a petition urging council chiefs to improve road safety measures amid claims children's lives are being put at risk on Leeds Ring Road close to a primary school.
Families pictured earlier this month on the  pedestrian  island in the middle of Leeds Ring Road close to Highfield Primary School, Alwoodley.Families pictured earlier this month on the  pedestrian  island in the middle of Leeds Ring Road close to Highfield Primary School, Alwoodley.
Families pictured earlier this month on the pedestrian island in the middle of Leeds Ring Road close to Highfield Primary School, Alwoodley.

Mother-of-three Claire Davenport is urging Leeds City Council to make changes to the Ring Road at its junction with Shadwell Lane near Highfield Primary School at Alwoodley.

Mrs Davenport, who is backed by fellow campaigner and mother-two Claire Owen, said dozens of parents have raised concerns with her about children’s safety while crossing the Ring Road.

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Parents are calling for the speed limit close to the junction to be reduced from 40mph to 30mph.

And they want changes made to a small pedestrian island used by hundreds of families.

Mrs Davenport said safety barriers at the pedestrian island have still not been replaced after they were destroyed when two cars collided after lights failed at the junction on Monday January 4.

Mrs Davenport, who said traffic lights failed again on Tuesday morning this week, added: “The next step will be to set up a petition. Parents ask me on a daily basis whether anything is happening with the crossing and whether safety is going to be improved.

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“There are so many near misses every week with children nearly being knocked down, which unfortunately the council’s statistics don’t take account of.”

Leeds City Council has said the local authority has carried out detailed investigations into the safety of the junction and said it has a good safety record with only one accident involving injury in the last five years.

The council has said it has still been looking at alternatives for the junction and will continue to do so.