Town councillors have raised concerns about the safety of children walking down Knowle Hill to the new Kenilworth School.

Works to improve safety and access to the new Glasshouse Lane site have been underway since April, with Warwickshire County Council installing new crossings, cycle lanes and a 20mph zone.

But local representatives alongside parents have questioned what is being done for Knowle Hill where children must cross the road where visibility is limited.

Sarah Blanks, who has a child at the school, has expressed her concerns after witnessing children trying to cross the busy road after school.

She said: "This is a major walking route for children to and from school, and yet there is no adequate footpath for the most part nor any safe place to cross due to the restricted view.

"I cannot believe something hasn't been done.

"To watch children chancing it and dashing over the road is a real worry."

Local representatives alongside parents have questioned what is being done for Knowle Hill (image supplied)

Another local parent, Emma Cann, added: "The visibility on Knowle Hill has always made the crossing dangerous but now with the additional traffic caused by the new school and housing development, the county council needs to invest in a safe walking route before someone is seriously injured or worse."

Another local parent Georgina Morgan said: "It is extremely short-sighted to have such a major project with little thought given to how children are meant to walk to and from school safely."

Local teenagers Isadora McAinsh and George Bell - who have campaigned for safe cycling routes to the new school - said: "Will it take one of our fellow students getting hurt before Warwickshire County Council will take Kenilworth's students safety seriously?

"Why should we have to fight to walk and cycle to school safely?"

Kenilworth Town Council has raised concerns about the issue, with council leader Cllr James Kennedy saying: "It is important that these concerns are taken seriously and acted on."

A group of Liberal Democrat and Green town councillors, alongside county representative Cllr Tracey Drew, have been on site several times since the school opened to monitor the situation at Knowle Hill, as well as Glasshouse Lane, Dencer Drive and Leyes Lane.

They met with highways officers from WCC on 15 September 2023 on site to urge immediate steps to be taken, and visited again on 28 September.

"Urgent action is needed here," said Cllr Zoe Leventhal, who is also a parent of children at the school.

"I have seen the problems for myself several times, including whilst cycling with children to and from the school.

"We have already heard from parents about near misses on Knowle Hill where children are running in front of fast-moving traffic.

"This is unacceptable."

Traffic lights have been installed on Glasshouse Lane (image by James Smith)

Cllr Richard Dickson added: "The risk of dangerous traffic on Knowle Hill, Glasshouse Lane and Dencer Drive was identified when planning permission was granted back in September 2019.

"The new School has put out several messages to remind students and parents/carers about the need for care in the vicinity of the School.

"Local councillors have been working together in the area to see the danger firsth and and to call on the county council to take the urgent necessary steps to improve safety."

County councillor Tracey Drew explained: "I first raised concerns about Knowle Hill when elected over two and a half years ago.

"Since then, numerous meetings, communications and site visits have taken place.

"Despite these and pleas from all quarters, action on the ground has yet to be seen.

"Agreement with WCC officers was finally reached earlier this year, for exploration of a traffic calming scheme.

"I look forward now to its urgent progression and implementation - or that of an equally effective alternative.

"We all want to see younger people cycling and walking to school in safety."