New crossing for Devon school

It's now here in black and white!

Pupils can now safely access a village school in North Devon after a zebra crossing was installed.

It’s at Witheridge C of E Academy and follows long-running worries about road safety.

The school is on Fore Street, the main road through Witheridge on the B3137, which runs northbound to South Molton and to Tiverton in the south.

When agreeing to the scheme last June, Devon County Council explained: “Efforts have previously been made to improve safety in the area, such as signing and road markings. However, concerns remain about the road safety.”

Supporting “safer routes to school and … active travel improvements in the village,” the work  includes new bus shelters each side of the main road.

The previous shelter outside the school will be replaced with a new one to the west side of Fore Street, south of the Butts Close access. Another will be installed on the east side of Fore Street between the sports club and Lakelands Close.

Last year’s council report added: “The additional benefit will be a length of footway at the rear of the bus stop, which will allow increased accessibility to other facilities in the village such as the sports club and football pitches.”

It’s all costing around £77,000, funded through contributions from a new housing development in the village.