CHILDREN are helping plan ways of making going to school safer.

Two Atherton schools have been chosen to launch a pilot scheme because of the high level of accidents in their vicinity.

Traffic calming measures, including a 20 mph speed limit, road humps, special crossings, waiting areas and parking restrictions, are planned for streets around St George's junior and infants schools in Bag Lane and Derby Street.

In the past four years there have been 43 road accidents near the schools, 16 involving pedestrians - eight of them children.

And four out of six cycle accidents involved youngsters.

In a school survey pupils identified over 40 different danger points on their way to school. The survey also showed one in four travelled by car to school and 75% of journeys were less than half a mile.

Now, under a Government initiative called 'Safe Routes to School', which Wigan Council is being asked to promote as part of their transport plans, the ideas are being put to the public at a series of exhibitions.

Local councillor Cllr Sue Loudon (pictured with some of the children) said: "I'm delighted by this scheme, another first for Atherton.

"There have been real problems, particularly because it's a split site, and the local councillors welcome anything that can be done to improve the safety of the children.

"I hope as many people as possible will take the chance to go along to the exhibitions, find out more and let us have their views. It is very important that local parents and residents are involved at every stage."

The exhibition is at St George's Infants, Bag Lane (3-4.45pm today), St George's Juniors, Derby Street (3.15-4.45pm May 24/25), Atherton Community Centre, Dorset Road (6-8pm June 1/2). You can also view it at Atherton Library (May 24-28).

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.