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Pupils make Town Hall appeal for road safety
FOUR plucky schoolchildren were cheered in the Town Hall as they lobbied councillors on road safety.
Lib Dem councillors yelled out supportive cheers as the kids pleaded with council chiefs to install safety measures at a busy junction in Ecclesall.
Pupils from Silverdale School want something done to improve the junction of Ecclesall Road South and Woodholm Road.
Matthew Mascarenhas-Keyes, aged 11, lives just yards from the junction.
He told a meeting of the full council: "We are happy to miss school to come here as citizens of Sheffield to express our concerns.
"We heard that until someone dies, the council will do nothing. Why should I or my friends die just to change your mind?
"A lot of children use this road every night from Silverdale, High Storrs, Notre Dame and Dobcroft schools, so why are you putting their lives in danger?
"We have been told there is no money but why are you spending so much on flowers to make Sheffield beautiful? What is more important - a child's life or blooming flowers?"
His friend Katie Yeardley added: "The road is very busy and children have to dodge cars and jump back on the pavement.
"I have to use this junction and get confused as when cars indicate to turn I can't tell which road they are driving on to so I have to guess. What if I get it wrong?"
The children gave up part of their Christmas holidays to help to collect a 1,000-name petition which calls for traffic lights or a roundabout.
The council says it will review the children's request.
Coun Terry Fox, cabinet member for transport, said: "Road safety is very emotive and nine out of 10 petitions we get are about this issue.
"We have a host of other areas around this city with the same, if not more, problems and we have a process which we will put this request through."
Lib Dem Leader Coun Paul Scriven accused Labour of favouritism saying: "Labour has a favoured areas policy but a child's life is equal across the city and the process for road schemes should be done on an equal basis for the whole city."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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