School accident blackspot gets '30' speed zone

Published on 30th November 2006 in News

Three weeks ago the scene was one of carnage, displayed graphically on the front page of the Goole Times as a cement lorry careered into the playground of East Cowick primary school.

On Tuesday, November 7, the vehicle veered off the road, crashing into four parked cars and finally coming to a standstill rammed against the small Peugeot car of Mrs Alison Bilverstone.

In the aftermath of the accident Mrs Bilverstone was taken to hospital with neck and spinal injuries. Prayers were said for the children at the school, who had moved inside the building only minutes before the accident.

Parents and councillors have long campaigned for a speed reduction and a decision has been taken after meetings with Snaith and Cowick Together, staff and parents at East Cowick primary school and East Riding of Yorkshire Council to reduce the speed limit along the stretch of road outside the school to 30 mph.

As a result, the campaigners have now got their wish, with a series of traffic-calming measures put in place by East Riding of Yorkshire Council within a matter of days of the accident. The stretch of road directly outside the school has been reduced to 30 mph and red road markings and a speed indicator have been put in place.

Admin officer at the school, Mrs Hinchliffe, said: "It's early days and we're hoping that people are going to adhere to the speed limit. It's a welcome change and will hopefully add a feeling of security to parents dropping their children off at the school."

Snaith and Cowick Town Council feel that the measures should be the beginning of changes rather than the end, deciding at their meeting on Monday this week to outline their feelings in a letter to East Riding of Yorkshire Council, asking that the remainder of the stretch of the A1041 Snaith road between Snaith and Cowick be reduced to 40 mph.

ER councillor Terry Allison said: "We can achieve a safe area near the school with the new speed limit and high-visibility signs, but at the end of the day avoiding accidents like these lies in the hands of the people driving through East Cowick."