ABINGDON schools are calling for urgent action to improve cycle routes and pedestrian crossings after a pupil died on her way to school.

The town’s six council-run and independent secondary schools, as well as Abingdon and Witney College, have called for Oxfordshire County Council to review cycle routes.

They claim that the routes do not connect with each other, that cyclists must share sections of some routes with traffic and that there are not enough pedestrian crossings.

Last October 17-year-old Sarah Waterhouse was cycling to Larkmead School when she died in a collision with a coach.

There is no pedestrian crossing at the busy junction of Marcham Road and Colwell Drive, where the accident happened. Chris Harris, the headteacher of Larkmead School, is spearheading the campaign and wants action to try to prevent a similar tragedy.

He said: “We believe that cyclist and pedestrian safety could be much better in Abingdon.

“It’s all based on accident data and until there have been significant accidents, they can’t and won’t site new crossings.”

Representatives from the six schools and the college will meet next month compile a list of sites where they want improvements.

Mr Harris said: “What we’re looking for is recognition that we have got something close to 6,000 students involved and the potential is huge for accidents.

“I don’t want to keep hoping everything will be okay, I want to think we have done something to maximise safety.

“All we want is a review of cycle safety and a review that has outcomes.”

One of the areas Mr Harris would like to see improved is the “dangerous” junction of Wootton Road and Copenhagen Drive and outside the school in Faringdon Road, where the cycleway is not separated from the road.

Mark Turner, headteacher of Abingdon School, said: “I’m very keen to encourage more boys to cycle to and from school, in the interests of economy, health and the environment.

“It’s a great shame that the roads around Abingdon are so unfriendly to cyclists, making cycling a daunting and often dangerous experience.”

County council spokesman Marcus Mabberley said that work would take place in the next financial year, starting in April to resurface and improve signs on several cycle routes around the town centre.

However, he said no decision had been made about where the work would take place and how much would be spent.

Lesley Legge, leader of the town council, said: “Certainly not all of the cycleways join up – we’re very aware of that.

“I think at any time when there’s an accident, especially at such a sad time, it raises questions about improvements.

“If the schools have a plan which they know is what their pupils need, then that can really help to drive forward getting the cycle routes in place that are needed.”

abingdon@nqop.com