Labour AM Mike Hedges has today praised Swansea Council for their plans to roll-out 11 new 20mph zones outside Swansea schools to help improve the safety and wellbeing of children and pedestrians.
The news was announced earlier this week by Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Will Evans, where it was revealed that plans were in the pipeline for the local authority to introduce 20mph zones outside all Swansea schools over the next three years.
This financial year, funding worth £200,000 has been allocated to introduce the zones outside St Helen’s, Craig-Cefn-Parc and Morriston Primary Schools, Morriston Comprehensive, Cwmrhydyceirw and Glyncollen Primary Schools, Portmead and Blaenymaes Primaries, Townhill Community School, Christchurch Church in Wales and St Thomas Community Primaries.
Last year, Mr Hedges, who is a Chair of governors at both Glyncollen and Ynystawe Primary schools, supported a Senedd debate with other AMs to discuss and highlight the importance of introducing more 20mph zones outside schools.
Further to the debate, the Welsh Government launched a public consultation in November to coincide with Road Safety Week to gather views on introducing new statutory guidance for risk assessing walked routes to school.
Speaking on Swansea Council’s announcement, local AM Mike Hedges said:
“Every local council has a duty of care to our young people to ensure that the routes they use to get to and from school are safe and free from harm.
“That’s why I’m pleased to see Labour-run Swansea Council are taking swift action by rolling out 11 new 20mph zones around local school as part of their wider commitment towards improving schools routes throughout the entire city.
“These safety measures will go a long way towards making our Swansea roads safer for pupils, parents, drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.”
Commenting on the Welsh Government’s public consultation, Mr Hedges added:
“With the public consultation still open until early February, I would urge all children, parents, teachers, pedestrians and road users to get involved by having their say on this important issue.”
