SCHOOL pupils gunning for change are hoping they can make a real difference to the amount of traffic speeding past their playground.

Pupils at Dame Anna Childs Endowed Primary School in Whitton, near Presteigne, have got their hands on a speed gun to drive home the message about road safety.

Class three pupils have been looking for ways to improve their environment and they identified the risk on the roads surrounding the school.

With the help of Keith Williams, road safety officer for Powys County Council, pupils have been collecting data about speed on the B4356.

Cath Humphreys, headteacher, said: “The road outside the school is supposed to be 30mph but people go past in excess of 60mph.

“We had a fatal road accident here three years ago and a lot of pupils witnessed it and they still talk about it. It is something they are all aware of and, when a car goes racing through, they say it could happen again.” Pupils are particularly concerned about the possibility of speed causing another accident with the road being so close to their playground.

“We are on a very dangerous crossroads with a fast road running along the front of the play area,” Ms Humphreys said.

“If there was an accident, not only would they witness it, they would also be at risk.

“There is a 30mph limit but it is not observed because the road is so straight.

“Out of school hours there is not really a risk but during school hours, particularly at drop-off and collection times, there is a problem.” Pupils intend passing their findings onto the relevant authorities in the hope that drivers stick to the speed limit through the village.

“They are quite fired up and they are a very active bunch.

They all want to do something,” Ms Humphreys said.

“They are in the process of collecting data over a period of time which will then be presented to the authorities as evidence of their case.

“They have recorded the speed of vehicles in bands and they are very concerned about the times this happens.

“They are trying to find out if there is a pattern as to when it is more dangerous and, when they have enough data, they will write to the authorities to present it.” When pupils have done this, they will consider sending the information to the highways department at Powys County Council, the community council, the police and the Welsh Assembly.

‘We had a fatal road accident here three years ago and a lot of pupils witnessed it and they still talk about it’ – Headteacher Cath Humphreys.