Town councillors have expressed their "serious exasperation and disappointment" at the lack of progress on improving safety measures on the roads around the new Kenilworth School.

Since the Glasshouse Lane facility opened in September, Kenilworth Town Council (KTC) has continued to press its county colleagues to address a number of concerns for children walking or cycling to school.

Works to improve safety and access to the new site began in April 2023, with Warwickshire County Council (WCC) installing new crossings, cycle lanes and a 20mph zone along Glasshouse Lane.

The works finished behind schedule, after the school opened.

But KTC has continued to call for further safety measures to be installed on more of the roads around the school.

Having written to and met with representatives of WCC, the town council says responses so far have been "unsatisfactory and worrying".

"The opening of Kenilworth School in September has been a hugely positive experience for the town," Cllr Zoe Leventhal said at the most recent town council meeting. 

"But the roads situation around it, and the active travel, allowing children to travel there safely and cycle there safely has not been so positive."

Action Needed

Following that meeting, leader of the council, Cllr James Kennedy, has written to WCC's portfolio holder for transport and planning, Cllr Jan Matecki, calling for urgent progress on behalf of the town council.

In particular KTC has called for the county to appoint an officer dedicated to the project, and to consider the 'lessons learned' from the past few months.

Cllr Kennedy's letter - seen by Nub News - also asked for a number of updates on previous requests.

Kenilworth Town Council has called for urgent responses from its county colleagues (imaeg by James Smith)

"The town council repeats, and places on formal record again, its serious ongoing concern about road safety for young people in the vicinity of the school," he wrote.

Councillors raised specific concerns about the lack of safe crossing on Knowle Hill, where the pavement stops, and about the lack of cycle lane turning into the school.

"Will WCC take responsibility for having approved the faulty design?" the letter added.

Knowle Hill

Councillors have spoken about the issues for students crossing Knowle Hill for months, and said promises by WCC to install road signs in January are still yet to be met.

"There remains no tangible or visible progress with either the temporary crossing or permanent pavement solution at Knowle Hill, despite the commitments made[...]," the letter added.

"Despite chasing, we have been provided with no update (and not even the courtesy of a response to our emails). Please provide an urgent update.

"Even the temporary safety signage which was due to be reinstated by 8 January 2024 is not in place [...] please ensure this signage is reinstated as a matter of urgency."

Parents and councillors have raised concerns about the safety of children crossing on Knowle Hill (image supplied)

Parking

KTC has also pressed its county colleagues on when a promised parking consultation will take place, following complaints about parking on the roads near the school.

"Please provide an update on the timing of the promised consultation on parking restrictions as a matter of urgency, as it is now March 2024," the letter added. 

"This was promised in the New Year. Despite chasing, we have had no update. 

"Local councillors continue to receive regular and increasing numbers of complaints, as does the school, and we understand that complaints have been made directly to the police."

Pedal to Protect

Campaign group Pedal to Protect - which presented a petition to the leader of WCC in 2022 calling for safe cycling to the school - has echoed KTC's comments.

"For over three years Pedal to Protect has been raising the issue of safe cycling and walking routes to Kenilworth School with Warwickshire County Council," they said.

"Despite their claims of prioritising children, road safety and climate change Warwickshire County Council has still not acted.  

"With the multiple developments happening in Kenilworth we need more joined-up thinking with a greater focus on safety for cyclists and pedestrians."

The Pedal to Protect petition was presented in February 2022 (image by James Smith)