Student-led petition for safer cycling at new Kenilworth School presented to leader of county council
By James Smith 24th Feb 2022
A petition started by two local teenagers to make safe cycling to the new Kenilworth School a priority has been presented to the leader of Warwickshire County Council today.
Isadora McAinsh, 13, and George Bell, 14 started the 'Pedal to Protect' petition last December having realised during the pandemic how bad cycling routes in the town were.
The two had initially planned a protest in Abbey Fields but decided a petition to the council was the way forward.
And with nearly 2,000 signatories, the petition was presented to Cllr Izzi Seccombe at the Leyes Lane site this morning.
Before it was officially handed over, Isadora read a short speech to the parents and children who had come to show their support.
"It is frustrating for the kids of Kenilworth who want to contribute to tackling carbon emissions but can't necessarily walk to the new school, and yet their is no safe cycleway," she said.
"We need a cycleway that doesn't abruptly end or enters into fast traffic - until you provide this how can you change the culture of travelling to school?
"What is the point of providing 544 bike racks for the new building if you are not providing a way to get the bikes there?"
Cllr Seccombe was joined by other local councillors, MP for Kenilworth and Southam Jeremy Wright and the school's headteacher Hayden Abbott as she received the petition.
Having also made a short speech to the amassed crowd, she then said to Nub News: "It is the young people presenting this, and that really means a lot to me.
"We have got a new school coming into Kenilworth so absolutely it is the chance to get everything right now.
"What they are talking about is 'how do you safely mix children, bicycles and traffic' - this is such an important initiative and one that needs to be taken seriously."
With WCC now set to discuss the petition Isadorra added that she wanted people to meet again at the school in a few weeks "to make sure this doesn't get forgotten".
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