FED-UP parents, teachers and residents are calling for safety measures in a cramped street opposite a primary school after dozens of near misses.

The narrow Thorneloe Walk which serves St George’s RC Primary School in Worcester has been the site of several crashes and near misses in recent years, the most recent of which saw a city council lorry crash into a wall outside the school during the morning rush.

The most recent crash has resulted in parents, teachers and residents renewing calls for the council to bring in safety measures before somebody is seriously injured.

In less than a week, more than 200 people have signed a petition calling for action.

Green city councillor Karen Lewing, who represents the Arboretum ward, has called on Worcestershire County Council to bring an end to the “utter madness” in Thorneloe Walk and bring in safety measures before somebody is hurt.

Cllr Lewing said: “There have been numerous accidents on Thornloe Walk and it is very fortunate that no one has been hurt.

“With St George’s RC Primary School in this location it is utter madness that traffic is allowed up the narrow Thorneloe Walk causing congestion, conflict and on several occasions hitting the wall on the corner.

“It is now up to Worcestershire County Council to respond by creating a ‘school street’, adding bollards to restrict access and remove Thorneloe Walk from sat nav directions.”

The campaign to make Thorneloe Walk a ‘school street’ would see bollards installed and the road closed to traffic for an hour during drop-off and pick-up times to allow children and parents to get to school safely.

One parent, Sally Heyworth, said the growing size of the petition showed the “strength of feeling to do something.”

Another parent Carly Barnes said: “My child goes to this school and the amount of times I have seen drivers push their way down this very narrow road whilst small school children are trying to get to school is scary.’ 

Local resident Peter Sheeran said he was “sick” of seeing his garden wall destroyed by lorries.

“Thorneloe Walk should return to be a walk,” he said. “Traffic should be restricted to access to the flats.”