Sprowston: White Woman Lane School safety fence plans backed

Teachers and parents say overcrowding at peak times has put children at risk of falling off the curb and into oncoming traffic at White Woman Lane School in Sprowston.

One parent proposed installing the safety fence along the grass verges where children congregate to be picked up and dropped off to Sprowston Parish Council and the council has now voted to back the plans.

The junior school's executive headteacher, Ashley Best-White, has admitted the road is "always extremely busy and congested", but did also have concerns.

Ms Best-White said: "I would ask that any design of safety fencing for this section of the verge outside of the school entrance, takes into serious consideration that primary-age children do like to climb and play.

"I would not want any safety fencing to become a climbing frame outside the school, so close to the road, this would of course compromise the safety of the children even further."

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When backing the plans at a full town council meeting on Wednesday, February 1, councillors agreed to put the proposal to Norfolk County Council.

Council chair Bill Couzens said: "This is not something we can put into action but we'll take it to the county council now."

Head of the school, Daniel Richmond, also backed the fence describing it as an "excellent idea".

White Woman Lane connects North Walsham Road and Spixworth Road, and is mostly a 20mph road with speed bumps.

Initially proposing the idea in a letter to the council, a parent had said: "As it's very crowded by a busy road, parents are worried that a child or children may end up getting seriously hurt by oncoming vehicles if they accidentally step off the grass verge."