CROWCHUTE Link, the road outside Manor Court Primary School, has seen the introduction of two new 20mph “when lights show” signs in a bid to improve student safety around the school.

Somerset Council implemented these new signs after involvement by Unitary Councillor, Connor Payne, who worked with Manor Court Community Primary headteacher Luke Talmage after raising concerns about student safety.

Mr Talmage commented on the news of this improvement: “It is wonderful to have further traffic calming measures outside the school for the safety of current and future Manor Court pupils.

“This initiative has been a long time coming and awareness of the need was raised by Year 5 pupils in a project with the Yeovil Town Community Sports Trust that included an online petition that had over one thousand signatures. This petition received the support of many members of the local community and politicians.”

Conservative Unitary Councillor Connor Payne added: “Student safety is a key priority in an area with so many primary and secondary schools. I am pleased to have worked with Manor Court and Somerset Council to ensure this improvement was carried out.”

He added: “The former Conservative-run Somerset County Council set aside funding for this in 2020 and 2021, it is great to see Chard’s local schools now feel the benefit of this policy.

“Unfortunately, Liberal Democrats are claiming the credit for this, when it was Conservative-allocated funding and a local Conservative Councillor who delivered this work.”

Lisa Bagg, a parent on the Friends of Manor Court Association, said: “A huge thank you to Cllr Connor Payne for all your help working with the Council on behalf of parents and the school to deliver the 20mph ‘When Lights Show’ signs.

“These signs have now been put up outside Manor Court Community Primary in a bid to improve student safety when travelling to and from School.”

In June 2020, Somerset County Council voted on a Budget to implement 20mph zones outside all Primary Schools in Somerset.

The council pledged in its 2021 budget to dedicate a further £1.5m of funding for these improvements by 2022.

Unfortunately, due to Coronavirus there were some delays in the programme delivery.