‘AN accident waiting to happen’ is how one parent has described having a 60mph speed limit outside a West Devon primary school — but feels fears are being ignored by the county council.

Chair of governors at Gulworthy Primary School and parent Nick Henderson said the legal speed limit outside the primary school on the B3257 was 60mph which was ‘ludicrously fast’ and is calling for some traffic calming measures — ideally a 20mph speed limit — to make school drop off and pick up time safer for children and parents.

The issue is not new — the school has been trying for a long time to get something done about the speed of traffic outside the school, but said Devon County Council’s highways department comes back with the same reply — that nothing can be done unless there is a pattern of accidents.

But Mr Henderson is hoping to try to get a change in place before his role as chair of governors ends.

He said the 60mph limit had always been ‘a bone of contention’.

‘Everyone I have spoken to says it is mad and insane. That said, it would be a challenge for any vehicle to get near this because of the roundabout, but believe me, they do quite well.

‘Unfortunately, DCC Highways tell me that nothing can be done here as it is not known as an accident spot and that, unless this changes, there is nothing they can do about it.

‘Unbelievably, this can only be interpreted that there has to be a serious incident, which would probably involve a child, before they will do anything about it — so should that be my son or someone else’s? Getting two children out of the car — holding the hand of one while trying to get the other out — on that road with cars speeding past scares the living daylights out of us every day.’

Mr Henderson said he had met with West Devon MP Geoffrey Cox about the issue, who shared his concerns and who also wrote to the highways department, but received a similar response.

‘There was also the feeling that they don’t wish to “spoil” a rural road by adding further signs or traffic calming measures,’ added Mr Henderson.

‘We have a flashing sign to warn drivers they are approaching a school, but that is it. Every morning and afternoon there are heart-stopping moments when a vehicle or large tractor passes, at a legal speed level, way too fast to be remotely safe should a child or parent step into its path.

‘I am grateful to Mr Cox for his interest and concern but it is a sad day when even our representative in parliament is unable to achieve such a simple thing as slowing traffic outside a primary school.’

Mr Henderson said he was planning to start a petition and would campaign to get DCC Highways to come to the site to see it for themselves.

‘Everyone I speak with agrees wholeheartedly with me over the issue. Highways and Devon County Council are the only parties here that disagree,’ he said. ‘It seems very wrong that the will of the people is not being properly considered and I do not intend to let this rest until we make some further progress. It cannot be acceptable that, in order to see this addressed, a child or other person has to be involved in an accident before anything gets done. As a parent, governor and friend of other parents and children, all I ask is that we do something to bring the passing traffic to a safer level outside this wonderful little school.’

A spokesperson for Devon County Council said the issue had been considered numerous times and it was felt that a reduction in speed would not be effective outside the school. They said the current signage made people aware of the school and the parked cars served to reduce speeds. They also said they had offered to provide training and support for a voluntary school crossing patrol.