By James HorePARENTS have voiced fears for the safety of their children who will have to cross a major road on their way to a new school. Youngsters living in Ramsey currently only have a short walk to get to Two Village School in Wix Road, but the school will be moving from the start of September to a new site in Mayes Lane.

By James Hore

PARENTS have voiced fears for the safety of their children who will have to cross a major road on their way to a new school.

Youngsters living in Ramsey currently only have a short walk to get to Two Village School in Wix Road, but the school will be moving from the start of September to a new site in Mayes Lane.

That will mean children as young as four will have to cross the A120 - the main road into the busy Harwich International Port - to get to the new Two Village School.

Older pupils who go to the Harwich School already have to cross the A120 to get to a bus stop, and parents have now called for action before a youngster was seriously injured or killed.

One of the parents, Claire Sidney, said: “This affects at least 10 children in Ramsey village who have to go across the A120 and up the hill towards Dovercourt to be there for the bus at just after eight in the morning.

“And from September, the little ones will be expected to go that way as well to get to the new school and not all parents will be able to walk with them every day.

“It is really dangerous and there will be even more traffic if the new port goes ahead - there is no crossing or even a lollipop lady. An accident will happen and, I hate to say it, but someone will be killed.”

Jacqui Woolard's son Lyle, 13, used to be taken in by school transport, but he will also be walking the route later this year after being told it was no longer available.

“The bus was removed four or five years ago, but I can't understand why they don't bring it back - and my next oldest son Nathan has been refused it. I think they should bring a bus back, but so far no-one has been able to arrange it,” she said.

The East Anglian Daily Times has been running a campaign to upgrade the A120 to make it a safer after a series of fatalities and believes safer and easier travel could also bring millions of pounds into the area's economy.

A spokeswoman for Essex County Council said: “We are working with Two Village School on their travel plan at the moment, which will incorporate the issue of the A120.”

james.hore@eadt.co.uk