A recent meeting between Theresa Villiers MP, Patrick Moriarty, head teacher of JCoSS school, and East Barnet residents, Cate Fairbanks and Hanna Blond Thurlow, has generated some helpful results. Theresa set up the meeting to enable the Victoria Road Walk Safe Campaign to set out their concerns on the impact of JCoSS buses in Victoria Road and surrounding streets.
Reporting back on the meeting, Theresa Villiers said “This was a forthright discussion enabling Cate and Hanna to put the concerns of residents about problems with the JCoSS coaches in Victoria Road, such as speed, congestion and cars mounting the pavement. Patrick Moriarty was able to explain the perspective of the school and parents.”
“As a result of the meeting, the school has asked its coaches to observe a 15 mile an hour speed limit in Victoria Road. The head teacher has written to all JCoSS parents to explain the points made by Cate and Hanna on behalf of the schools’ neighbours, asking them to take particular care when driving through local roads. He will also be writing to residents in Victoria Road and other streets to set out what the school is doing to mitigate the impact of its coaches, and to provide a phone number for residents to contact the school to report further problems if they arise.”
“I welcome the campaign being run by Cate and Hanna to make Victoria Road safer. The meeting at JCoSS was a good opportunity for the school and residents to understand one another’s point of view. I warmly welcome the constructive approach that both the residents and the school are taking to try to improve the current situation through workable compromises.”
The concerns around school buses are just one aspect of the Victoria Road Walk Safe Campaign. Other measures are currently being considered by the Council, including the introduction of a 20 mile an hour speed limit in Victoria Road.