Sam EmanuelPeople living along a rat-run near Norwich, where cars speed past an infant school and a sheltered housing complex, are being urged to write to council officials in support of new safety measures.Sam Emanuel

People living along a rat-run near Norwich, where cars speed past an infant school and a sheltered housing complex, are being urged to write to council officials in support of new safety measures.

The proposals for Rawley Road, in Bowthorpe, include a raised crossing for pedestrians, footpath widening, double yellow lines, two new school signs, 'slow' markings on the road and dropped kerbs at the crossing point.

They are being supported by Clover Hill Infant and Nursery School, councillors, local residents and people living in the Bradecroft sheltered housing on the road.

Although the Norwich City Council plans are only at the first consultation stages, councillors have said they are likely to be approved quickly if residents are forthcoming in their support, and are urging people to write to Keith Duncan, the technical officer at City Hall, in support of them.

Councillor Anthony Little said: 'This has been a frequent issue raised with us as councillors and also at a recent Safer Neighbourhoods Meeting with the police. Speeding down Rawley Road is acute because it has both a school and the sheltered housing scheme at Bradecroft.

'These plans are a great step forward and we strongly support them. We are now urging local people to write to the council to show the strength of support locally too.

'Road safety has been a recurrent theme locally and we are now working on plans to make our major roads, such as Clover Hill Road and Chapel Break Road safer too.

'These changes represent a package of measures that will make a great difference to the school at Clover Hill and residents in Bradecroft sheltered housing. I would like to pay tribute to the work of the school and residents in making this a reality.'

Lynne Holton, head teacher of Clover Hill Infant and Nursery School, added: 'We've been trying to get this improved for years and written letters, but this is the first time there has actually been a proposal, which we fully support.

'There are two blind corners and people do drive very quickly down here, and there isn't really anywhere that's safe for the children to cross - it's an accident waiting to happen.'

In 2008, a campaign to get speed limits reduced in Bowthorpe was started after five-year-old Kai Davies, from Goodhale Road, was hit by a car and died.

The Evening News has been calling for improved safety measures outside schools as part of its Park Safe campaign.

Anyone wishing to have their say on the crossing plans should email keithduncan@norwich.gov.uk, reference 09.HD.056, before Friday, April 2.

Are you campaigning to get traffic calming measures introduced in your area? Call Sam Emanuel on 01603 772438 or email sam.emanuel@archant.co.uk.