Monmouthshire County Council has given an assurance that traffic calming measures will be completed outside Kymin View School.

Parents had expressed concern that children's lives were being put at risk and lollipop lady Pam Willett had threatened to resign unless the area was made safer.

In a statement to the Beacon, Dave Harris, Head of Highways & Waste Management, said:

"We are committed to put in place traffic calming measures outside Kymin View School to ensure as safe an environment as possible around the school. 

"We undertook a public exhibition last year as part of the consultation process on proposals for introducing a 20mph Zone on Wyesham Road.

However, the local ward member of the County Council, Counc Liz Hacket-Pain later received representations from residents about the physical features of the original proposals, and in particular the speed cushions and speed tables, which has resulted in changing the scheme to provide an advisory 20mph Zone without the physical measures.

"The revised scheme incorporates flashing warning signs which required approval from the Welsh Assembly.

"This has now been granted and work on installing the signs along with other measures have now started and will be completed shortly after the school holidays. 

"Once the scheme has been completed, we shall then monitor traffic speeds and users' behaviour to see whether there is a need for any further features to be installed.

"The objective will be to keep traffic speeds low, particularly at school times." Mr Harris said this approach was being taken in recognition of the inconvenience that the vertical deflections could cause to road users.

"However, our overriding concern is the safety of pupils attending the school and creating a safe environment where children and parents feel safe walking to school," he said.  

"If we cannot achieve the reduction in vehicle speeds necessary without the physical features, we will consider their installation at a later date," Mr Harris added.

The assurance from the County Council followed the original Beacon article, highlighting the problem.