The headteachers of two Spen Valley schools have welcomed plans to slash the speed limit to 30mph outside their grounds to help prevent accidents.

Birkenshaw Middle, Bradford Road, Birkenshaw, and Hartshead Moor Special School, Halifax Road, Hartshead Moor, Liversedge, are among a dozen schools earmarked for the proposal which is supported by the police.

Next Thursday, Kirklees Council's highways committee is being asked to approve the plan to reduce the speed limit outside schools which currently have a 40mph limit.

The Council wants to use new government powers allowing it to set speed limits on all roads apart from trunk roads and private ones.

Gerald Harker, of Birkenshaw Middle, which has 306 pupils, said: "I think it's a brillant idea because there is a high volume of traffic using Bradford Road which is dangerous to cross.

"It's a very wide, straight road with no traffic island in the middle to help pedestrians. I think drivers will slow down with the new speed limit.''

Colin Taylor, of Hartshead Moor School, which has 102 pupils, said: "I've been asking for a reduction in the speed limit since 1981 so I am more than pleased.

"Vehicles come hammering along at 60mph to 70mph. Our bus takes children to and from school and is faced with a constant stream of traffic and there have been a few close escapes over the years.''

Councillor David Sheard, chairman of the highways committee, said: "Complaints from parents and schools about traffic travelling at high speeds outside local schools are probably near the top of issues raised with councillors.

"Up until recently local authorities have had their hands tied by government rules and what many of us regarded as very restrictive criteria to decide things at local level.

"One of the problems was that under those rules reducing speed limits was not allowed simply because of 'one-off' concerns of schools. There had to be wider considerations than simply speeding outside schools.

"The rules have now been changed, allowing councils to make their own decisions.

"The intention is to impose 30mph speed limits, together with all associated measures of signs and markings to make motorists aware they are in a school zone.''

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