SAFETY concerns around children arriving and leaving Norton Hill Primary School, in Midsomer Norton, have been raised with MP Anna Sabine.

Ms Sabine met with headteacher Siobhan Waterhouse, who explained the concerns that there is no safe walking route for the children from new housing estates.

Currently, building works on the estates are preventing direct access to the school, with the lack of a safe crossing causing parents to use cars to drop-off children, further adding to the traffic chaos on the road.

Ms Sabine said: “It is very concerning that there is not currently a safe way of children crossing to get to their school.

“The road is a main and busy route, and it seems a clear opportunity for a crossing of some sort.

“Housing is important but it has to work without impeding the existing infrastructure.

“Section 106 (S106) money is an ideal way of ensuring developers pay to help ensure communities work, and the importance of ensuring the safety of children walking to school, cannot be overstated.”

Ms Waterhouse said after the visit: “Norton Hill Primary School was delighted to welcome Anna Sabine for a visit to the school, where she met with staff and governors to discuss the impact of ongoing housing developments in the surrounding area and the growing concerns about road safety outside the school gates”

She outlined the challenges posed by the significant increase in traffic, as the school has increased in size, the road outside the school has become increasingly busy, creating heightened safety risks at drop-off and pick-up times.

Ms Waterhouse said: “We are extremely grateful to Anna Sabine for taking the time to visit Norton Hill Primary School and to hear first-hand about our concerns.

“As our community grows, so, too, does the volume of traffic outside our school.

“The safety of our pupils is our absolute priority, and it is imperative that a safe pedestrian crossing is installed as a traffic calming measure and to allow a safe place for pupils to cross the road.”

Bath & North East Somerset Council Cllr Lucy Hodge, cabinet member for sustainable transport delivery, said: “Section 106 agreements secure developer contributions that mitigate the site-specific impacts of new developments and can be used to fund highways infrastructure such as pedestrian crossings.

“The £1.3 million of improvements linked to the planning application for the new school included footways and a toucan crossing on Charlton Road which has been built.

“In addition, the S106 agreement for one of the housing developments in Somerset that has access links into B&NES included funding for the provision of a controlled pedestrian and cycle crossing on Silver Street.

“Once the housing is completed and as soon as there is pedestrian activity through the new development across Silver Street, our highways team will progress the construction of this new shared pedestrian crossing.

“We are committed to providing safe walking routes to school.”

Bath & North East Somerset Council highways representative were also invited to view the issues in person.