Toft Monks school children call for A143 drivers to slow down

The pupils at Toft Monks, near Beccles, have made posters urging drivers to slow down and drive at 30mph on the A143. 

Their eye-catching designs follow several near misses outside the school and echo calls from road safety campaigners in the village.

Glebeland Primary School has been working with a local speed watch group to work towards a reduced speed limit along the A143 in the village and by the school.

The limit there is currently 40mph.

Paul Thompson, the school's headteacher, said: “The road safety campaign approached me about how the school can support.

"We started off by doing an art competition in the school and they chose the best ones to be made up into signs."

Bel Capps-Jenner, right, and Jo Leonard, who organised the slow down posters, with Paul Thompson, academy head, at Glebeland Primary School, Toft Monks, holding the pupils' creations. (Image: Denise Bradley) READ MORE: Bid made by Shell at Gillingham services for charging units

Mr Thompson said they had a couple of close misses "right outside the school" in June and July.

“It’s such a main busy road so that’s why its so important for us to support the local community and push the safety campaign,” he added. 

Local road safety group Federation of Locals Against People Speeding, or FLAPS for short, was started by Bel Capps-Jenner and Jo Leonard earlier this year after Ms Capps-Jenner had a near miss on a backroad. 

They launched a petition to reduce the speed limit on the main road in the village and the backroads to 30mph.

Traffic rushes by the school on the A143. (Image: Denise Bradley) READ MORE: Temporary road closure in Norton Subcourse next week

The speed limit is 40mph through the village before going up to 50mph towards Haddiscoe, and returning back at a 40mph by the school. 

Jo Leonard said: "As far as we are aware, it is the only school in Norfolk that has a 40mph limit outside the school. Most of the other local schools are dropping to 20 and we are still a 40".

“We thought if we got the kids to draw the signs, people may take a bit more notice than a standard 30mph road sign."

One of the signs created by pupils at Glebeland Primary School at Toft Monks, to slow down traffic outside the school. (Image: Denise Bradley)The back roads speed limit is 60mph and have "blind bends" reducing visibility. 

Mrs Capps-Jenner said: "Response from the residents has been amazing."

The petition has 250 signatures already and has raised nearly £1,000 to cover the cost of the signs and to go towards a speed indicator device.

"Electric cars are so quiet and it's difficult to hear them coming on a blind bend," Ms Capps-Jenner said. (Image: Bel Capps-Jenner)Ben Goldsborough, MP for South Norfolk, has signed the petition and said: “I fully support calls for a 30mph speed limit throughout Toft Monks.

"Our rural highways must be safe for everyone, especially our children and parishioners. It's essential that residents can walk through the village without fear or danger from speeding vehicles.

"Protecting the safety of our communities should always come first, and this change will help ensure that Toft Monks remains a peaceful and secure place for all."

FLAPS would like to thank everyone involved and Rampart Signs in Great Yarmouth for producing the signs.