Safety is a paramount concern for parents who bring their children to the local Methodist Church daycare preschool and toddler group venue. Navigating through constant traffic, including heavy transport, large agricultural vehicles and some speeding vehicles that come around the blind corner at often dangerous speeds, is a daily challenge. It's not only dangerous, but also harmful to children’s health caused by particulates from accelerating and breaking vehicles. It also adds undue stress for parents and children alike. Statistics show that a pedestrian hit at 30mph has a 50% chance of being killed, whereas at 20mph, there's a 90% chance they will live (Source: RoSPA). It is clear that reducing the speed limit is not just a good idea, but vital to ensure the safety of our most susceptible ones – our  children.  Therefore we are asking the Wellington Town Council to explore the implementation of a 20mph speed limit or similar speed reducing method on Waterloo Road in particular around the corner of Waterloo Road adjunct the turning to Corams Lane and beyond the Methodist Church where parents cross the road to approach the preschool and toddler group venue. The safety of our children should not be compromised. Please sign this petition to safeguard the lives and health of our young ones.

Statement from Roger Mason Properety Steward Wellington Methodist Church October 16th 2024

“Wellington Methodist Church is situated on a dangerous corner by Corams Lane. We have a number of children attending the church on a regular basis in the Pre-school and Toddler groups, who have to cross the main road, often between cars. On Sundays our elderly congregation face a similar problem.

There are further issues that would benefit from a 20MPH limit eg: The traffic can often include heavy lorries and buses, together with parked cars on one side. Traffic exiting Corams Lane from the sports centre are vulnerable. Elderly residents from Ivy House are also affected. Numerous children walk from Courtfields School and Beech Grove School towards Corams Lane in term time.

The junction at Victoria Street and Courtlands Road. Exiting this junction from Victoria Street towards the town you have to be very aware of anyone using the zebra crossing (particularly at school times) as you are only a couple of meters from the crossing. 

Slowing the traffic on Waterloo Road would benefit considerably. Going towards town from Corams Lane the road bends (at the Gables) where cars are parked on the right. This is a dangerous spot as I have often seen lorries and sometimes cars drive up onto the pavement on the left.

It may be beneficial to all to make the road from Corams Lane to the centre of town a 20MPH limit”

Statement from Emma Clements School Manager

I am the manager of the pre-school and toddler groups. I have worked at the premises for 12 years and been a manager for 5. The pre-school has been situated here for many years. We operate between 9 - 3.45 with collection and drop offs happening in the middle of the day. The pre-school has 2 to 4 year olds that attend. Parents either walk often with another sibling in a pushchair, some with a child on a pedal bike/scooter and others drive. At other times we take the children out for walks where we use the pavement to either turn left or right to take us to our destination.

Keeping everyone safe who attends and works in the pre-school is obviously one of my main responsibilities. I have never really felt that I have had much control over the outside of the pre-school and the near misses we have had on the very dangerous road. I feel now this is an opportunity to try and make a difference before a tragedy happens. The main concern is the speed which the vehicles pass. This includes cars, buses, lorries and tractors. If the vehicles are travelling from the north end of Wellington the pre-school is on a blind corner and drivers do not seem to be aware of the speed they are travelling and that
there could be pedestrians of all ages trying to cross the road or on the pavement with young children. 

It is a high volume area of pedestrians as it is in a built up residential area with people accessing the sports centre, dentist and primary school. There are also two bus stops one on either side of the road. So if the bus is stopped quite often the cars speed around the corner, then have to brake quickly.
I would like to see some sort of traffic calming measure in place in the first instance some sort of sign asking people to slow down. However I think there should be a more permanent solution as it is such busy main road with so many hazards.

Statement from Ben Fox Tone Dale House  23rd October 2024

“I support Leary Hasson’s petition to impose a 20mph speed limit or similar traffic calming measure along Waterloo Road to reduce the danger to children and their parents attending the preschool and toddler groups at the Methodist Church. 

I’ve always been an ardent supporter for 20mph in built up areas especially around schools. Being a keen cyclist too (for leisure, work and fitness ) and with so many roads in such poor condition … slower speeds make a huge difference to general safety. Also recent research by national highways agency’s clarify that 30mph kills but 20mph only injures.

Therefore I would ask the Wellington Town Council to seriously attend to the matter”