QUESTIONS are being asked as to why a reduced speed limit was not brought in on busy roads prior to the opening of a new school campus.

The Glasdir Estate primary school campus, home to both Ysgol Pen Barras and Rhos Street School in Ruthin, opened in April.

It caters for more than 500 pupils aged five to 11.

But fears have been raised over the layout of the Ruthin North Link Road, which leads from the roundabout near Tesco towards the Ruthin Farmers’ Auction and onto Denbigh Road.

Parents believe the road does not encourage motorists to consider schoolchildren walking to and from school.

They say they have been left in the dark about any efforts being made to reduce the speed limit and have described the current safety situation as “an accident waiting to happen”.

Mother-of-two Lileith Gordon said she was “scared” for her own children and the safety of others.

She said: “The speed limit needs to be addressed, it is an accident waiting to happen.

“I raised the issue after walking with my children to school and being stranded on an island in the middle of the road with three more children.

“Trucks were mindlessly going hell-for-leather along the road, it was a pretty scary place to be.”

She continued: “Goodness knows what could have happened if, for example, they clipped the pavement.

“It is good that people are walking but you wonder if it is worth the risk?”

Eileen Elmore, who walks her grandchildren to the Glasdir campus, said: “Between the school and Tesco can be a daunting walk and trying to cross the road.

“I’ve seen a parent and two children all on bikes struggling to cross in safety.

“Why is there no 20mph limit outside a busy school?”

Another well used route to the school is Denbigh Road, which has been fitted with traffic lights and a lollipop lady.

Ruthin town councillor Emrys Wynne has been pushing for Denbighshire County Council (DCC) to impose a 20mph speed limit.

Cllr Wynne said: “I have been issuing pressure on the council since I knew a new school would be opening.

“I wrote to the DCC’s highways calling for a speed limit, hoping that it would be imposed outside the school gates on Denbigh Road during opening and closing times.

“On the Ruthin North Link Road, I would like to see safer crossings.

“There is an island on the road where cyclists have to cross because the cycle path moves to the other side.

“There is minimal room for an adult and two children with bikes.

“Parents have been forced to police the road themselves by taking turns to cross.”

A spokesman for Denbighshire County council insisted they are looking to improve the situation, saying: “Council officers are working with county councillors, the school and the Welsh Government to look at making improvements to pedestrian routes and general road safety issues in the vicinity of the school.”

Huw Hilditch-Roberts, town councillor for Ruthin, said: “I have asked the officers to draw up safety plans and, where needed, adjustments will be made to islands, crossings and junctions.

“Once the plans have been drawn and costed there will be a full public consultation.

“Many people have asked why changes have not been made before schools opened – this is very difficult until we know what parents and children prefers routes are.

“Some changes have already been made prior to opening.”

He continued: “There are more children cycling to school now than at Rhos Street site as the old site road was very dangerous.

“It’s great to see the children walking and cycling to school as we saw very little before the new schools opened.

“We now know what needs changing and a full consultation with the public will take place.”