September and the start of another school year, another school year without a pedestrian controlled crossing point on the A639 or A642 for Oulton and Woodlesford students walking to and from Royds School.
Following complaints from parents, supported by the School, and the Oulton Society, Leeds City Council carried out a survey and in February 2002 (yes, 2002!) confirmed that a pedestrian controlled crossing was needed and that consideration was to be given to installing flashing slow down signs close to Pennington Lane. The location of the pedestrian controlled crossing and the source of funding was confirmed to ward councillors in March 2002 - Nothing happened.
A key concern covered in the initial LAWRRAG campaign was the safety of Royds School students having to cross either the A639 or the A642, both roads acknowledged by the council as having speeding problems! LAWRRAG had the full support of the school headteacher, parents, and the local MP, however in January 2006 the council stated that following a recent survey there were insufficient numbers of people crossing by the school too satisfy the criteria for a pedestrian controlled crossing. It was pointed out to the council and the councillors that the vast majority of students cross the road before the Sports Centre, and not close by the school - this was ignored.
In response to an article about the LAWRRAG campaign in the Yorkshire Evening Post, Wednesday 22 February 2006, a council spokesman was quoted "Young people at Royds School are working with us to produce a traffic plan to identify any traffic problems that they experience on their journeys to school. We will look at all results and take any action we think is necessary." (As the parent of a 'young person' at Royds at that time the writer nor the 'young person' ever heard anything about this supposed co-operation!). Over time it was 'suggested' that LAWRRAG shouldn't involve itself with the school as the Education department and the ward councillors, Governors at the school, were working with the relevant council departments to sort this out.
In 2002 a crossing was needed, 7 years on, with a higher traffic volume and higher speeds there is still no safe crossing point. School students are encouraged to walk to and from school.
