Ladysmith Families for Safe Streets

At today’s Exeter Highways and Traffic Orders Committee (HATOC), Devon County Council outlined their plans for the Ladysmith / Park / Commins / St Marks junction (see image).

It is good news that this is still on their agenda. We are concerned that the new layout may increase traffic speeds along Commins and Ladysmith with the new priority, though the new junction design may at least be a little clearer for all road users than the old mini roundabout.

We look forward to hearing more about the work with focus groups to look at further improvements.

We’re hearing reports from parents that a child on a scooter was clipped by a car on Pretoria Road this morning. If you witnessed this incident please can you contact the school to give a statement.

We’ve been very quiet on here because, well to be honest we’re all parents with plenty of other things to do! But very disappointed to learn Exeter Highways Committee has scrapped the Active Streets Trial without putting in place a single alternative to keep Ladysmith children safe.

They have proposed keeping the planters in place while more consultation takes place, but this is likely to make the situation actively MORE dangerous than either keeping it removing it completely 🤦‍♀️

We have always said we are open to all options for making sure our children have safe routes to school, but the latest decision doesn’t provide anything.

Please do write to your local city and county councillors, leader of Devon County Council and members of the HATOC committee to ask how they plan to deliver safe streets for Ladysmith and other local schools, and all the children and young people in our community.

DCC Councillors: https://democracy.devon.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?bcr=1

ECC Councillors: https://exeter.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/councillors-and-meetings/find-your-councillor/

HATOC committee: https://democracy.devon.gov.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.aspx?ID=168

The direct action enforcing the bus gate this week has made a significant difference to the safety of Ladysmith Road and it is lovely to see a mix of generations standing up for the safety of children in our community. However, it really shouldn't be down to residents. Hopefully Devon County Council and Devon & Cornwall Police can sort themselves out and agree proper enforcement for the remainder of the trial.

'Human bollards' living in fear of death threats 'Safe Streets Now' protestors have been stopping drivers from flouting the rules of the LTN trial this week

We've recently joined the Mums for Lungs - School Streets group to find out more about School Streets. Have you heard of School Streets and did you know there is one in place on Pretoria Road (between the Infant and Junior Schools)?

School Streets can work with and without other measures like traffic filters. Should there be a School Street for Ladysmith Road?

More information about School Streets 👇

School Streets Initiative: http://schoolstreets.org.uk/

Devon County Council: https://www.devon.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/safe-travel/road-safety/schools/school-streets/

Living Streets: https://www.livingstreets.org.uk/get-involved/safer-routes-to-school/

Sustrans: https://www.sustrans.org.uk/our-blog/projects/2019/uk-wide/sustrans-school-streets

Sustrans School Streets School Streets is a programme to improve air quality and make it safer outside the gates during the school run.

👋 Apologies for being quiet! We’ve been doing a bit of work trying to connect with parents who aren’t active on Facebook too. If you’d like to join us and connect with more Families for Safe Streets offline, please comment below or drop us a direct message and we’ll be in touch.

(Please enjoy this drawing by my child since the Facebook algorithm prefers posts with an image or video 😂)

Thank you to everyone that has followed us. Have you responded to Devon County Council's consultation about the Active Streets trial? It only takes a couple of minutes, and you can choose to comment on just one, some, or all of the traffic filters.

If you're concerned about safety outside the school, and on travel to school routes, please do take a moment to respond. You can make a comment asking for the Ladysmith Road bus gate to be properly enforced as long as it's in place.

https://www.devon.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/parking/traffic-regulation-orders/exeter-streets-consultation/?fbclid=IwAR3fY2WdhtsTe-Oz5U9a3T9oecZyQJUsJo5NjXHuyPpiiUufEr-BzL22py4

Exeter Streets Consultation - Roads and transport

Enough is enough. Today Ladysmith School had to write to parents again after not one but two separate road safety incidents yesterday.

In one incident, a mum on a bike with a child had a car reverse into them and were then subjected to verbal abuse by the driver and others.

The road is becoming so dangerous again with more and more people choosing to drive through the bus gate at the top of Ladysmith Road. This is exactly what it was like before the trial scheme.

So far the Active Streets trial is the only thing that has, for a time at least, made the road safe for children and parents. Whether it stays or goes in the long run, we are a group of Ladysmith families who are demanding that:

1. The Ladysmith Road bus gate is actively enforced as long as it is in place.

2. Whatever decision is made about the Active Streets trial, a workable permenant solution must be put in place to keep Ladysmith families safe, including safe routes to school.