Greenside

Good morning everyone, my name is Caitlin Farrar and this is Cameron Pearson.

Cait – I am sure you will have heard of the problems concerning children’s journeys to shool but we are here today to try and convince you how important this issue is. Our school lies in between three busy roads – the Uxbridge Rd, Goldhawk Rd and Askew Rd. This mean that our local roads near the school are used as a cut through by traffic.

Cam – Before Children’s Parliament came to our school we did not think this was an issue but our research has proved us wrong.

Cait – We have completed work both inside and outside the class. Firstly we went on a local walk to look at the changes that have taken place around the school over the years.

Cam – We looked at our local enviroment. We made a note of the good and the bad. We have graphs showing the pollution caused by motor vehicles for you to look at…from our meeting with Steve McAndrews who is from the Borough Environmental Department.

Cait – We conducted a road survey on the Askew Road. This included taking readings of noise pollution.

Cam – We have visited the Urban Studies Centre and met with members of the local council to talk about what changes we can make.

Cait – We have completed a project both at school and for homework and our talk today is a reflection of the work completed by this whole class.

Cam – When we did the local walk looking for changed, we use old photographs to compare what we could see today…we found out that the amount of cars in the area has increased dramatically in recent years.

Cait – One of the main problems we found was with a road running next to the school. We will tell you about these findings in a moment.

Cam – We then went out and conducted a survey on the Askew Road. This is a dangerous busy local road. WE counted the traffic. We looked at different types of vehicles using the road and measured the amount of noise they make.

Cait – We counted how many cars had single people in them and those with more than one person. Most cars had only one occupant. We found there were 1722 vehicles per hour travelling on the Askew Rd. Far too many! Especially when we took our survey at 11:00 in the morning.

Cam – We noticed that Batson Street was a short but dangerous road. It’s right beside the entrance of the school. WE noticed cars ignored the give way sign.

Cait – In the morning and at the end of the school day you will see crowds of children, toddlers and parents crossing over the road. As it is the first road that the children cross after leaving in the evening the children are usually very excited about returning home they often run around without looking for dangers.

Cam – Also the pavement is too thin on Baston Street and one of our classmates has witnessed a two-seater buggy having to use the road because the buggy could not fit on the pavement. It can’t be a very long timebefore an accident happens. Drivers might only see the child until too late!

Cait – We have been discussing way to solve this problem. We met with Tom Finnegan Smith from the Traffic Engineers Department.

Cam – Some of the ideas we looked at were the council could build speed cushions.

Cait – Or make Batson Street a one way street or close the road altogether. Tom has asked us to forward these ideas to him. AS a class we prefer speed cushions because closing the road will make other local roads more congested.

Cam – We also realise that we have to do our part. In school we have looked at ways of reducing traffic and how to ensure the safety of all children who attend the school.

Cait – We have designed our own surveys and questioned pupils how they travel to school. We have met with Gwen Cook who is the Hammersmith and Fulham Travel Plan Co-Ordinator and discussed ways of setting up a walking bus.

Cam – This allows children to walk to school with their classmates in safety. We plan on setting a walk on Wednesday policy for those of us who make unnecessary journeys by car. We also discussed these issues with Rob Orchudesh from the Hammersmith and Fulham Road Safety Unit.

Cait – Unfortunately some Greenside parents add to the problem by bringing their children in cars and stopping just outside the entrance near the school gate.

Cam – Even if Richard the school caretaker puts police cones out to stop this happening some people insist on ignoring it. They think…

Cait – “I’m only going to be a few minutes”…

Cam – And hold up traffic and make crossing the road more dangerous. They can’t live that far away this is a school for local children.

Cait – We asked Parent Governor Ben Hall for a comment. He said…

Cam – “This is not just a local problem. Our country sees more children killed on the road that any other country in Europe. We want Greenside children to walk to school but they have to be able to do it safely”

Cait – This presentation will be shown to the parents.

Cam – We are also very worried about the increase in traffic that will be caused by the Uxbridge Tram roadworks.

Cait – If you find your school has similar issues to those we have spoken about you could use some of our suggestions.

Cam – Thank you for listening to our presentation.

Both – Be careful out there!!

		Good morning everyone, my name is Caitlin Farrar and this is Cameron Pearson. Cait – I am sure you will have heard of the problems concerning children’s journeys to shool but we are here today to try and convince you how important this issue is. Our school lies in between three busy roads – the Uxbridge Rd, Goldhawk Rd and Askew Rd. This mean that our local roads near the school are used as a cut through by traffic. Cam – Before Children’s Parliament came to our school we did not think this was an issue but our research has proved us wrong. Cait – We have completed work both inside and outside the class. Firstly we went on a local walk to look at the changes that have taken place around the school over the years. Cam – We looked at our local enviroment. We made a note of the good and the bad. We have graphs showing the pollution caused by motor vehicles for you to look at…from our meeting with Steve McAndrews who is from the Borough Environmental Department. Cait – We conducted a road survey on the Askew Road. This included taking readings of noise pollution. Cam – We have visited the Urban Studies Centre and met with members of the local council to talk about what changes we can make. Cait – We have completed a project both at school and for homework and our talk today is a reflection of the work completed by this whole class. Cam – When we did the local walk looking for changed, we use old photographs to compare what we could see today…we found out that the amount of cars in the area has increased dramatically in recent years. Cait – One of the main problems we found was with a road running next to the school. We will tell you about these findings in a moment. Cam – We then went out and conducted a survey on the Askew Road. This is a dangerous busy local road. WE counted the traffic. We looked at different types of vehicles using the road and measured the amount of noise they make. Cait – We counted how many cars had single people in them and those with more than one person. Most cars had only one occupant. We found there were 1722 vehicles per hour travelling on the Askew Rd. Far too many! Especially when we took our survey at 11:00 in the morning. Cam – We noticed that Batson Street was a short but dangerous road. It’s right beside the entrance of the school. WE noticed cars ignored the give way sign. Cait – In the morning and at the end of the school day you will see crowds of children, toddlers and parents crossing over the road. As it is the first road that the children cross after leaving in the evening the children are usually very excited about returning home they often run around without looking for dangers. Cam – Also the pavement is too thin on Baston Street and one of our classmates has witnessed a two-seater buggy having to use the road because the buggy could not fit on the pavement. It can’t be a very long timebefore an accident happens. Drivers might only see the child until too late! Cait – We have been discussing way to solve this problem. We met with Tom Finnegan Smith from the Traffic Engineers Department. Cam – Some of the ideas we looked at were the council could build speed cushions. Cait – Or make Batson Street a one way street or close the road altogether. Tom has asked us to forward these ideas to him. AS a class we prefer speed cushions because closing the road will make other local roads more congested. Cam – We also realise that we have to do our part. In school we have looked at ways of reducing traffic and how to ensure the safety of all children who attend the school. Cait – We have designed our own surveys and questioned pupils how they travel to school. We have met with Gwen Cook who is the Hammersmith and Fulham Travel Plan Co-Ordinator and discussed ways of setting up a walking bus. Cam – This allows children to walk to school with their classmates in safety. We plan on setting a walk on Wednesday policy for those of us who make unnecessary journeys by car. We also discussed these issues with Rob Orchudesh from the Hammersmith and Fulham Road Safety Unit. Cait – Unfortunately some Greenside parents add to the problem by bringing their children in cars and stopping just outside the entrance near the school gate. Cam – Even if Richard the school caretaker puts police cones out to stop this happening some people insist on ignoring it. They think… Cait – “I’m only going to be a few minutes”… Cam – And hold up traffic and make crossing the road more dangerous. They can’t live that far away this is a school for local children. Cait – We asked Parent Governor Ben Hall for a comment. He said… Cam – “This is not just a local problem. Our country sees more children killed on the road that any other country in Europe. We want Greenside children to walk to school but they have to be able to do it safely” Cait – This presentation will be shown to the parents. Cam – We are also very worried about the increase in traffic that will be caused by the Uxbridge Tram roadworks. Cait – If you find your school has similar issues to those we have spoken about you could use some of our suggestions. Cam – Thank you for listening to our presentation. Both – Be careful out there!!

Greenside Primary monitor noise levels in the local area.
Greenside Primary discuss their research with Hammersmith and Fulham Principle Road Safety Officer.