An Audenshaw primary school is calling on Tameside Council to implement a safer road crossing after a member of staff was involved in an accident.

St Stephen’s Church of England Primary School is based on the A6140 Audenshaw Road - a busy bus route close to a motorway slip road.

A member of staff suffered a serious injury when she was clipped by a car earlier in the year and is still off work recovering. Despite this, the school say she had a lucky escape and it could’ve been so much worse.

Some students even say they are scared to come to school, such is the risk of crossing the road.

Now the school’s headteacher, the school council and parents have all come together to put pressure on the local authority to improve safety outside of the school.

The school’s head girl said that she was afraid to cross the road when coming to school, saying it’s very dangerous.

She said: “The cars go so fast that when I look out my dad has to pull me back. They drive so fast and they don’t stop. I still get scared crossing it. Sometimes I’m scared to come into school because of that crossing.”

Julie Miller, reception teacher and leader of the school council, was on hand when the accident happened and rushed to the aid of her co-worker.

“I ended up dealing with it as a first aider,” said Julie. “It was a friend and a colleague and it was very upsetting.

“We’re aware that there are complications because we’re close to the junction, but we’d like to see if we could possibly have a zebra or a pelican crossing.”

The school council has already said that they would be prepared to fundraise to pay for the materials for the crossing.

Headteacher at the school John Shelton says that the support since the accident has been enormous and the school is more focussed than ever to get the new crossing.

He said: “I know that for some time we have tried to get a crossing for our school but this accident in September has really brought it into focus.”

A lollypop person had been considered, but this would only be at peak times meaning that anyone coming and going during after school clubs and events would not see the benefit.

“We have events regularly and we need a crossing for our school that is there permanently which tells drivers that there is a school in this built-up area,” added John.

“At the moment we are lost, the traffic comes off the motorway and is very fast coming across the road. We would like a crossing permanently to enhance safety outside school.

“We understand that our school was built at a different time when there wasn’t as much traffic. We understand that we don’t have a car park and therefore cars are double-parked. We’re on a bus route, there are lots of different things, but safety of our school community must trump everything else.”

The area’s three councillors have said they are sorry to hear about the accident and pledged to help the school.

Cllr Warren Bray, speaking on behalf of his St Peter’s ward councillors Joyce Bowerman and David McNally, said: “We were very sorry to hear that there had been an accident near the school.

“In 2015 we were sorry that the school decided to dispense with the school crossing patroller and the highways department will give assistance should the school wish to replace the crossing patroller.

“There is a set criteria for installing pedestrian crossings and Lee Holland, our head of engineering and highways, will be in touch with the school to assist with that process.”

The school’s online petition currently has more than 680 signatures. If you would like to support their cause, you can click here.

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