Balfour Junior School is to employ a range of measures to prevent a tragic accident after Green MEP Caroline Lucas wrote to Brighton and Hove City Council road safety officers highlighting the difficulties faced by parents and pupils crossing Balfour Road.

A flashing ‘vehicle activated sign’ has already been installed, a new ‘lollipop’ man or woman is due to start in coming weeks – and the council has promised to use children’s artwork on safety signs ‘in the next financial year’.

Green MEP Caroline Lucas went to visit the site last month to see for herself how parents were ‘taking their lives into their hands’ every time they tried to cross Balfour Road to the school. She said:

“Balfour Junior School is located near a busy junction – forcing parents to take their and their children’s lives into their hands every time they cross.”

“The parents and teachers have been working hard for years to improve safety – and have called for a zebra crossing, and an increased police presence to deter dangerous parking.

“The measures the council has confirmed are very welcome – and will certainly make a difference – but the answer must lie in a 20mph speed limit for both Balfour Road and Surrenden Road, which can only be described as one of the worst examples in Brighton of a road in which cars take precedence over all other road users.”

The issue was first raised by a parent at a ‘Fiveways and Preston Park Local Action Team’ meeting attended by attended by local Green Party councillor Amy Kennedy.