Pressure mounting for improved safety outside Bures school

Pressure is mounting for a crossing to be installed in Nayland Road in Bures, near to Bures Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, after a child was involved in a near-miss with a vehicle.

Gemma Tremayne, a parent at the school, estimates she has spoken to 50 parents who say they have experienced near misses involving children almost being hit by vehicles.

Parents, as well as the primary school and pre-school, in Bures are joining forces to call for improved safety measures (Image: Lucy Taylor)

The 35-year-old, from Leavenheath, says "traffic flies along the road" despite it being located in a restricted 20mph zone.

A near-miss involving her youngest child, who is enrolled at the pre-school on the opposite side of the road, has prompted Mrs Tremayne to launch a petition calling for new safety measures.

"I just could not stop visualising him being hit by a car and going over a bonnet," said Mrs Pinder.

"Cars speed well over the 20 miles per hour [speed limit]."

"It has become quite apparent that the road provision is not up to where it should be for what the school needs."

The campaign comes after a child was involved in a near-miss outside of the school (Image: Lucy Taylor)

The petition put forward by the mother-of-two has received backing from the primary school's headteacher, Michaela Harris, as well as the pre-school.

Mrs Harris said: "I think we would like it to be done as a preventative measure.

"We keep getting pushback and the feeling is nobody will do anything until something really awful happens."

Mrs Tremayne added the current provision is "not very well structured" and that several measures should be explored.

A small area with railings is intended for crossing at present, but Mrs Tremayne said there is a lack of "awareness" for its use.

A spokesman for Suffolk Highways said: "We'd like to thank Bures Primary School's teachers, pupils and guardians for raising awareness on this issue and invite them to speak with us directly about what measures can be put in place to minimise the risk at the crossing.

"Speeding is ultimately the responsibility of drivers who should drive appropriately according to the speed limits and road conditions, paying particular attention in a school safety zone such as this."