AN increasing number of accidents and near misses outside Glusburn Primary School has led to calls for extra safety measures.

Funding has now been secured for a railing to be put up at each side of the school entrance but campaigners have said it is not enough to protect the children from traffic on the busy Colne Road.

County Councillor Philip Barrett said that there had been a serious incident outside the school last month when a wagon collided with a van, and a week ago a wagon went onto the pavement outside the school as pupils were arriving.

He added that the number of near misses had accelerated in the past six weeks., and he had been working with school representatives and highways officials to find a solution.

He said: "Whilst I am pleased that I have been successful in securing funding for a barrier, there are clearly other issues that must be addressed. These include speed, the level of congestion by parked vehicles at school times and improved signage."

Coun Barrett has suggested reducing the amount of spaces at the Glusburn Institute car park available to mill staff, around school times. He said mill staff had been allocated six places, but this had risen to 17.

This proposal was raised at Glusburn Parish Council on Wednesday but members felt that an area of land behind the school would be more appropriate.

The governors will be contacted about the land, and Coun Allan Thompson said he would take Coun Barrett's suggestion back to the institute committee.

Before the meeting, headteacher Val Ashdown said: "We have had a number of incidents with traffic outside the school and I know a lot of parents are quite concerned.

"It is always a problem for us, the traffic does flow through so fast, but we have had quite a few incidents recently."

She added she would welcome any extra safety measures outside the school.