With the help of parents, Wessex Learning Trust Parish Councillors and the local County Councillor, Bob Filmer, Sedgemoor District Cllr Graham Godwin-Pearson has led a traffic survey at Weare Academy to try to understand the reasons for the build-up of traffic queues at morning drop-off at the school.
Every morning last week, Graham and a small team counted cars and monitored queue build-up, as well as how many vehicles were overtaking queues, during the morning 'rush hour' at the school.
A report has followed, which offers some solutions including making better use of the space in the carpark, some simple policies for parents and teachers to follow to increase throughput and encouraging more walking and cycling to school.
Should these not be sufficient, then there are more options, such as changing road markings outside the school.
Graham says, "The build-up of traffic between 08:30 and 09:00 is a source of frustration for residents, through-traffic and parents alike. The danger, though, is when drivers overtake the queues, bringing them face-to-face with other vehicles, just where children are sharing the space with traffic.
"If we can reduce the problem with simple, practical measures, it will be a relief to many and make the village safer for all road users."
The report is available at the school and Weare Parish Council.
