A LOWER Gornal primary school is celebrating after its calls for road safety measures were upheld and Dudley Council has installed a sign to warn speeding drivers.

Red Hall Primary School in Zoar Road is the only school in the borough split over two sites, which means the young pupils have to regularly cross the busy main road to get to the other building.

Staff and governors had been campaigning for warning speed signs for many months after children expressed fears about crossing the road.

They are all now delighted a flashing speed sign has been installed.

Headteacher Nicola Stanley said: “The campaign has been led by our chairman of governors, John Jones and we are very grateful to him and the council for getting the sign. Taking care of the children is of paramount importance to us.

“Crossing the road is part and parcel of our school life so a sign warning drivers of a school and to slow down and take heed is what we needed.”

She added: “Zoar Road is such a busy road and the children expressed fears to us and said they felt unsafe and when we dug deeper into these fears, it was the road which was scaring them.

“Anything which can draw attention to a school and make drivers aware is really, really welcome and is a step in the right direction.”

The school also appealed for help from ward councillor Anne Millward, who said she too was “over the moon” to see the sign up and working.

Mrs Millward said: “I went to see the headteacher last year about this and the children did a presentation for me about road safety and gave me some letters to give to the council, so I’m delighted I could go away and get something done.

“I put a request for a flashing road safety sign into the council around November, telling them this was urgently needed.”

She added: “So I am absolutely over the moon we have managed to get one up as it is for the children’s safety. It is just the job.”

Conservative Parliamentary candidate Graeme Brown, who has also been supporting the campaign, said: “I’m really pleased Dudley Council responded promptly to the concerns expressed by the governors and put the sign in place.

“We’ve witnessed plenty of cars putting the breaks on already when the sign flashes at them, so hopefully it will reduce the speed of cars as they approach the school significantly.”