Kimberley councillor thrilled as school crossing gets the green light

Coun Andy Cooper (Lab), who represents Kimberley on Broxtowe Council, has campaigned for several years, alongside parents and teachers, for a crossing to be installed outside Gilthill Primary School.

For time, there wasn’t even a lollipop attendant to help youngsters cross the busy road each day.

There now has been an attendent in recent years but Coun Cooper and others have continued their push to have a permanent crossing installed.

And now, their campaign has reached a successful conclusion with the county council announcing it will install a Puffin crossing on the road outside the school.

Coun Cooper said: “I’m absolutely delighted, in fact I’m over the moon, to coin a phrase.

"This all started with my predecesor Richard Robinson who launched a massive petition for this, and when he stepped down, he handed over all he had done to me and just kept nagging and nagging and it’s worked."

Coun Cooper thanked new county councillor for Nuthall & Kimberley James Rawson (Ref) for listening to the pleas of him and others and jelping to ensure the crossing became a reality.

He continued: “It’s been a real team effort, not just me but a lot of residents, parents and school staff and Kimberley Town Council too because they all wanted this and we needed it because it was dangerous that road for kids to cross.”

Coun Cooper says he hopes work to install the crossing will start in the summer holidays while the school is closed so that it will be ready and in use in time for the start of the new term at the end of the summer.

And he added that the crossing would not just benefit school children but the whole community.

He said: “This will be greatly used and appreciated by residents every day as well, particularly the elderly.

"It’s a busy road and they will welcome a crossing that allows them to cross it safely just as much.

"It’s great news for everyone and I’m really pleased.”