An Ilkley school is celebrating after hearing its youngsters will no longer have to dice with death to attend lessons.

Parents, staff and governors at Ashlands Primary School have won their fight to have a crossing put in place in Leeds Road.

The Highways Agency has agreed to put a crossing outside the school, to the delight of those who have been demanding such action for almost 10 years.

The agency is hoping the pelican crossing may be in place by the end of the Easter holidays. The scheme is expected to cost about £30,000.

A petition organised by Ashlands parent Rachel Spence was backed by almost 200 people last October.

Mrs Spence, a mother of five, said a crossing was absolutely essential as parents and youngsters had to suffer a daily ordeal of waiting for a break in the traffic.

"It is great news for all the Ashlands community - parents crossing with young children, older ones who now have more independence and the older residents who have been dodging the busy traffic back and forth from our local shops," she said.

She said the crossing was essential because the school did not have a crossing patrol to see people safely across the road.

Mrs Spence praised the Highways Agency for its attitude in dealing with the issue.

"I know the Highways official realised it was a big issue in the community. They must have thought 'we'd better do something'," she said.

News of the crossing has also delighted parish councillor Ron Dixon, chairman of the Ashlands governors.

He said: "We are overwhelmed and very grateful for all the support we have received."

Stuart Moorhouse, Ashlands head teacher, said: "We are delighted the Highways Agency has finally recognised there is a need for a crossing."

The news comes as the school prepares for its Planning for Real evening on Thursday, March 30. The event has been organised by parent governor Becky Malby.

The purpose of the open evening is to hear feed back from Ashlands parents and the community as a whole, about the increase in traffic school reorganisation will create.

Mrs Malby and her colleagues aim to minimise the impact by encouraging people to use other methods of travel.

The school has just carried out its Safe Routes to School survey. This showed many parents would like to take the healthy alternative of walking to school. The governors believe the promised crossing will make this a much safer option.

The Highways Agency spokesman said: "We are aware of the school's transport plan and have taken a close interest in it."

He said the agency hoped the crossing would help the school achieve its goal of encouraging more parents walking youngsters to school rather than taking the car.

The Planning for Real event will take place at the school between 2.30pm and 5.45pm.

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