This week’s icy conditions naturally bring road safety to the forefront of many people’s minds – but for residents and children going to school in one Coventry neighbourhood, it’s just one more danger on an already perilous daily journey.
It’s a timely issue to raise during Road Safety Week (17-23 November) where this year’s focus is counting the real cost of road crashes – victims and their families.
When our place based community organisers started talking to parents about what they would like to work together to change in Stoke Aldermoor, road safety was quickly identified as their main priority.
A campaign core team was formed, made up of concerned parents of children attending the local primary school and an inspiring group of young people wanting to make things better for themselves and others. After all, road safety affects everyone living in an area.
After speaking to over 100 people in Stoke Aldermoor, the team has opened an ePetition in order to put their demands to Coventry City Council.
They are asking people to support them by signing this petition before it closes on 19 December.
The team has also compiled video clips of numerous accidents and near misses that have happened outside their front doors involving speeding cars and on one occasion, a beloved pet. Watch their video below or on Grapevine’s YouTube channel*.
What is the petition asking for?
Better road safety in Stoke Aldermoor through the council to considering the following road safety measures:
- A zebra crossing on Pinley Fields
- A safe designated place for parents and children to cross
- Speed bumps on The Moorfield
- Extra parking spaces close to the school
- Make Pinley Fields a one-way street with waiting restrictions (to allow traffic from the school run to move off quicker, in conjunction with other measures requested)
- Use of speed cameras and fines for motorists
- School markings/cones around the school to ease congestion
- Consider the area around Aldermoor Primary School for a Street Safe scheme
- Employing a crossing patrol officer at school drop-off and pick-up times
- School involvement in providing more road traffic awareness training for parents and children. This could include outside organisations
- A pedestrian crossing on Acorn Street
- More 20 mph zones in Stoke Aldermoor.
If you would like to help the coalition of parents, young people and their neighbours achieve these positive changes, sign the petition here.
Grapevine community organiser Rose Gicovi said: “The more people we can get involved in this campaign, the better, as it demonstrates the strength of feeling on road safety in Stoke Aldermoor. Many people care about this issue.
“If we can get some or all of these measures in place with the council’s support, it will not only benefit primary school age children on their way to and from school, but the whole community.
“We would much rather take action now than wait for a more serious road traffic accident to occur.”
About place based social action
This campaign, sparked by local people, is part of our place based social action work in Stoke Aldermoor. It forms part of our Shifting Power strand of action with people, systems and services.
It is one of twenty national partnerships – funded by the DCMS and The National Lottery Community Fund – about people-led solutions that help young people and families thrive in a hard-hit Coventry community. We are changing the way public services and communities work together.
As one Stoke Aldermoor Social Action Partnership (SASAP) community member puts it: “One person can make minimal changes on their own, but a group of people can add more weight to the actions needed – to give those actions more power.”
Get involved
Anyone living or working in Stoke Aldermoor can bring their passions and ideas to improving the neighbourhood.
Contact Rose at Grapevine rgicovi@grapevinecovandwarks.org or by sending a text or WhatsApp message to 07478 096019.
*This video was made by the residents of Stoke Aldermoor with help from Grapevine. Please use your discretion when watching as the immediate aftermath of road traffic accidents is shown.