Calls for designated crossing near Gloucester primary school after children hit by cars
MP and school parliament call for clear pedestrian crossings
There are calls for a designated crossing to make it safer for pupils walking to and from school in Gloucester amid concerns children have been hit by cars on the road.
The raised table which is used by pedestrians to cross the street on Tuffley Avenue, near the junction with Calton Road, is seen to be causing massive confusion particularly for motorists and school children.
People seem unsure whether it is a crossing or not, leading to regular near-misses, according to Gloucester MP Alex McIntyre.
There is so much concern at nearby Calton Primary School that their pupil-led school parliament, the Calton Cabinet, has been carrying out work to find out how students are feeling, with a high proportion reporting feeling unsafe going to and from school.
Mr McIntyre and Labour colleagues visited the school in April and they say a pupil had actually been hit by a reversing car on Tuffley Avenue on that very day. He reportedly had to go to hospital but is OK physically.
And a few months ago a young girl was hit by a car while playing outside a house, they said. She is also understood to have made a recovery.
But parents, children and the school are increasingly wary as a result of the dangerous situation being created on Tuffley Avenue.
And the Labour MP, along with the school, is calling for a pedestrian crossing in a sensible location to give clarity to both pedestrians and drivers.
This could potentially be just past Calton Road so that pupils going towards Ribston Hall High School could also make use of it.
The MP and Calton School pupil Polly Porter handed in a letter on this issue to Gloucestershire County Council on July 3.
However, Mr McIntyre says the feedback they have had in private from Shire Hall is that they won’t look into that solution that because Tuffley Avenue is not a priority as no one has been killed there.
Mr McIntyre said: “I’ve been working closely with Prime Minister Polly and the Calton Cabinet over the last few months to push for changes to the traffic calming on Tuffley Avenue.
“It is unacceptable that children feel so unsafe walking to and from school and that children in this area have actually been physically harmed by cars without action being taken.
“Our key ask now is a proper crossing in a sensible location that will give clarity to both pedestrians and drivers, rather than the current situation that helps no one.
“I am asking Gloucestershire County Council to take the children’s feedback seriously and to take action to keep them safe.”
A Calton School spokesperson said their parliament team has demonstrated the very best qualities of active citizenship.
“Through pupil voice surveys, data collection and engagement with the local community and with decision-makers, they have worked tirelessly to highlight an important safety concern affecting children and families,” they said.
“We are immensely proud of their dedication and perseverance. This experience has shown our pupils that democracy is not just something they learn about in the classroom – it is something they can participate in and use to make a real difference.”
Liberal Democrat councillor Roger Whyborn (Benhall and Up Hatherley), who is the cabinet member responsible for road safety, said the council understands the concerns raised by residents, parents and pupils.
He said road safety is always a top priority for the authority and they are progressing a road safety scheme on Tuffley Avenue, due to be implemented in August and September 2026. However, the existing raised crossing platform will remain in place.
“The scheme was developed following concerns about vehicle speeds and a collision involving one of the existing chicanes,” he said.
“We will replace the two chicanes with speed cushions, introduce a 20mph speed limit and provide additional traffic-calming measures to improve safety along the route.
“The existing raised crossing platform has been assessed in line with Department for Transport guidance and will remain in place. Surveys showed it is well used during school periods and provides an important crossing point for pedestrians, including schoolchildren and people with mobility or visual impairments.
“While we recognise some residents would like to see changes to the crossing, our assessments found there is no evidence to justify removing or replacing it.
“The road safety issues identified on Tuffley Avenue relate primarily to vehicle speeds elsewhere along the route, which the new scheme is designed to address.”