School – It is that time of year when school uniforms are being brought out of the cupboard to be ironed, parents with little ones going to school for the first time are shopping with pride to buy their child’s first uniform while at the same time thinking through on how to get them to the school gate – safely.
Most parents living in and around Heighington will walk their children to school and many others will have to drive because of the distances concerned. It is important that ALL parents read the School Transport Charter to remind themselves on where to park, which roads are the preferred routes into school and the one way system through Hopelands which allows parents with older children to stop outside of the school gates, drop off their child and then drive to work or back home. This reduces the number of cars that need to find a parking space in a village that was not designed for motor vehicles. All parents will have seen this Charter and parents with children starting school should have received a copy from school. If there is anyone who is not aware of the School Charter, it is important that you either contact the school or myself for a copy.
The Charter has been created many years ago and modified over time. Most parents adhere to the recommendations but there seems to be a small number every year who ignore everything that is asked much to the concern of many Mam’s and Dads who witness the occasional near miss.
So to ALL parents including those driving into school for the first time, please, please drive slowly approaching the school gates and adhere strictly to the School Charter which has been developed to improve the safety of your children coming to school.
Housing Development – As Approval have been given to three planning applications to build new houses in School Aycliffe, Beech Crescent and Walworth Road and there will be large lorries delivering material to all three sites so we all need to drive more carefully to minimise the risk of an accident.
Councillor Gerald G. Lee
Heighington and
Coniscliffe Ward
