WESTON parents are calling for a step up in safety measures on the route from the village to its primary school.

They want a narrow pathway widened, repaired and built up above the road level.

They are also compaigning for speed and weight limits.

Heavy lorries and speeding cars on the busy Main Road put pedestrians at risk. With the path almost flush with the carriageway vehicles often treat the walkway as an extension of the road.

"As soon as motorists leave the 30 mph area in the village they speed up. Some overtake, causing even more risk to walkers. The limit should be extended to the bridge." said worried mum, Jane Witter.

Her main concern is the sloping, narrow, low path which, as our picture shows, puts pedestrians 'right on the edge' and too close to the traffic for comfort.

"There must surely be a legal requirement of width for a footpath beside a busy highway," she added.

Local councillor, Maureen Campbell said that a 7.5 ton limit had been put on the road when the Barthomley bypass link was built. But, despite protests from Weston and Basford Parish Council, this was removed because drivers were taking short cuts through the lanes.

"The pavement should be brought up to a safe standard as promised by Cheshire County Council five years ago," she added.

Borough engineer, David Heyes, said: "Originally the weight limit was either temporary or wrongly signed and the signs that are now in the village are the ones we have to have to tie in with the legal order.

"I know residents are concerned about the footpath because the kerb isn't very high but we have to put a bid in to the county council for funding.

"The council gets bids from districts all over the county and looks at them on a needs basis.

"The problem with Weston is that the council has looked at how many pedestrians use it and because it is a relatively low usage it hasn't reached the top of the list. It is difficult to compare the village with a town centre but it is on the list."

Mr Heyes said that a national review was being carried out which could give the council new powers to alter speed limits. The council was waiting to see what happened before any changes were made.

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