Primary schools' plan to make their roundabout safer

* The roundabout in front of the two schools. Picture from Google.

Llangollen’s two primary schools have been in touch with parents to tell them about plans to make the roundabout in front of their buildings safer to negotiate from next Monday.

A letter sent out by the children’s school councils at Ysgol Bryn Collen and Ysgol Y Gwernant outlines the plan to restrict use of the roundabout to 30 minutes in the mornings and 45 minutes in the afternoons for dropping off and picking up children, with only certain vehicles allowed to park and wait.

The letter also explains that the schools are working with the county’s traffic team to create a special area on the roundabout to help keep children, parents and carers safe as they head to and from lessons.

The letter says the school council has been working with head teachers and governors at both schools to find a way to make the roundabout “safer at drop off and pick up times”.

Areas which have been discussed, say the children, are the number of cars parking in the wrong places, especially on triple yellow lines; the number of people parking in taxi bays; how people can travel more safely to the schools and how to “try to fix the problem before there is a serious accident”.

“We have also seen that many parents and carers feel the same way that we do, and agree that something needs to be done. So we need your help,” they add.  

The councils advise therefore that from Monday November 7 “no-one will be allowed to park and get out, or park and wait on the roundabout at all. The only vehicles allowed to park and wait will be taxis, minibuses, coaches and blue badge holders”.

Drop and go times, they say, will be between 8.30 and 9am in the mornings and 2.45 and 3.30pm in the afternoons.

The letter to parents adds: “We are working with the traffic team in Denbighshire to help us to allow children and parents/carers who work, bike or scoot to school to travel safely into school.

“We would like a special area on the roundabout to keep them safe. To do this we need to get help from Highways and the planning team. We will let you know when we get more information on this.

“We hope you agree that these very small changes will make a huge difference and that with your help, you can make drop off and pick up times a safer place for both schools. If you would like to talk about these changes with your school, please contact your school directly.”