Dear Sir,
Firstly I would like to congratulate a number of schools on our town for their exceptional efforts in raising the profile of the “20 is plenty” campaign and also alerting the public to the dangers of illegal and irresponsible parking outside our schools.
The children and teachers of this town deserve massive praise for their enthusiasm, determination and sometimes defiance in the face of hostility and a blatant disregard for the safety of our kids.  It is a comfort to know that in an ever-changing society, most of our children do know the difference between right and wrong.
Secondly, as the councillor that proposed the motion regarding a speed reduction outside schools in Aycliffe and the County, I am thrilled with the responses made public over the past few weeks in the Newton News.  Whether they be good or bad, this is a good way to open up a debate on what is becoming a hot bed issue.
In addition I would like to respond to a couple of comments made regarding the proposal.
The purpose was to devise a plan that would be beneficial to all schools in some way or other and not just about a simple speed reduction to 20 mph.  The safety and wellbeing of schoolchildren is paramount and it was always my intention to tackle, not only the issue of speed but the constant problem faced at most schools with traffic congestion and irresponsible parking.
I am fully aware that a build up of traffic reduces speed, therefore reducing the risk of someone being hit by a car.  On the other hand congestion also increases the risk of someone stepping into the road and not being seen, resulting in possible injury.
It was proposed that Aycliffe Town Council lobby Durham County Council for the introduction of more School Safety Zones around County Durham.  This would hopefully impact on the number of parked cars outside school gates as these zones act as a no-parking area. However not every school would benefit from a School Safety Zone and/or a speed reduction.
With regards to Vane Road, the biggest problem there appears to be the school being on the junction of Vane Rd and Central Avenue, a main route into Newton Aycliffe.
If and when DCC look at that particular school, they may decide to employ both a zone on Vane Rd and a speed reduction on Central Avenue to maximise benefits for the school.
In terms of education, I think it fair to say that road safety is and always has been a big part of the curriculum.  Unfortunately we have is a small minority of parents who on a daily basis choose to breach highways regulations simply to ensure that they get as close to the school as possible.
Hopefully we will not only influence people to change the way they park their cars but also encourage them and their children to be more active, and walk to school, just as we did when we were young.
Counc Paul Kjenstad