CRISIS declares 'open warfare' over crossing

Feb 16 2010 By Vicki Eltis, Surrey Herald

THE chairman of a campaign group aiming to improve road safety outside a Weybridge School has declared 'open warfare' on the school's headteacher and Surrey County Council.

Former Elmbridge mayor Graham Winton, chairman of Cross the Road in Safety (Crisis), is angry a meeting between Cleves School, in Oatlands Avenue, and Surrey County Council bosses has not been organised almost one year after the campaign was started.

A meeting scheduled for January had to be postponed due to the snow, and MP for Runnymede and Weybridge, Philip Hammond, says although his office is in contact with all participants to arrange an alternative meeting, he is struggling to fix another date.

Mr Winton said that during school drop off and pick up times, cars park on both sides of the road, causing traffic chaos and making it difficult for children to cross the road safely.

He added: "I find it exasperating and very worrying. It came to a head the other day when I saw 20 old people in the church car park opposite the school, who had just come out of a new social group meeting, faced with the chaos.

"We've followed the right process. We spoke to the council, school and then submitted a petition. The time has come when we must declare open warfare. If the MP cannot even help, then what else can one do?"

The campaigners collected 1,300 signatures from parents and residents and presented it to a Surrey County Council local committee meeting in March 2009, calling for a safer crossing for children.

Councillors approved plans for a safe crossing location and work began to drop the kerbs and install railings vehicle-activated signs.

The council stipulated that the gates to the school's car park must be closed for the crossing to safely operate, but because the school refused to comply with this, work on the crossing had to stop.

Headteacher Sue Croft has always said closing the gates to the car park would cause more chaos at drop-off times.

Mr Hammond said: "I have visited Cleves School and I understand the issues that are being raised in relation to the crossing arrangement. Unfortunately, because we need any meeting to be during the morning of a normal working school day, it has been difficult to coordinate diaries."

Surrey County Council was not available for comment at the time of going to press.