Wervik (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – De Graankorrel school in Wervik faces ongoing traffic safety issues despite changes like bicycle streets and Schoolstraat closures. Supervisor Johnny’s strike highlights communication gaps. A meeting is planned with the school board, supervisors, and police to address safety concerns.
The traffic situation at De Graankorrel School in Wervik is still unsafe. The school board and local authorities have tried to fix this. They made some streets for bicycles and changed the traffic flow. They also closed Schoolstraat during busy times when kids are dropped off or picked up. These changes were meant to help keep everyone safe.
They mentioned that still there are problems. Many drivers stop in front of the school without following the rules. This makes it hard for cyclists and pedestrians. The authorities want to keep the area safe and easy to access, but they need everyone to cooperate.
How can school traffic safety be improved around De Graankorrel?
According to Tom Durnez, the Alderman for Mobility, the traffic around De Graankorrel school can be safe if everyone follows the rules. He mentioned that many parents and guardians are often in a rush when dropping off kids. They try to park close to the school, which causes problems. This makes the area chaotic and dangerous, even with new road changes.
Durnez is asking all drivers to slow down and be careful. Following the rules can help avoid accidents. Durnez mentioned that changes to the roads are good, but real safety comes from how people drive. Until drivers choose safety over speed, accidents will still be a big concern.
“We have already introduced bicycle streets, the direction of travel has been changed and the Schoolstraat itself is closed off at busy times,”
Says Alderman for Mobility Tom Durnez (CD&V).
Supervisor Johnny is worried about the safety of children after recent traffic changes. He thinks the current situation is too dangerous and believes more needs to be done. Johnny feels that the supervisors were not asked about these changes, leaving them to deal with the problems alone.
Supervisor Johnny became frustrated with the lack of communication, he decided to go on strike. He knows this could cause problems, but he believes it is necessary for the children’s safety. Johnny wants to ensure that proper measures are taken to prevent accidents and make the area safer for everyone.
“We’ve been left to our own devices,”
Says Johnny.
“They didn’t ask our opinion when implementing the traffic changes. That’s a shame. It hurts to strike, but it’s in the interest of the children.”
The alderman has expressed regret about the situation. He respects the work of the supervisors but feels they do not feel valued. He said he was not informed about the strike before it happened. He remembered a recent positive talk with Johnny, so the strike was a surprise and disappointing.
According to officials, a meeting will be held to discuss safety concerns raised by Supervisor Johnny. The school board, supervisors, and police will attend. They want to look at traffic changes and find ways to keep children safe. They will talk about adjusting traffic rules and where to place crossing points. The police will help with enforcing these changes.
The school board mentioned that they also want to thank the supervisors for their hard work. They plan to offer some form of compensation for their volunteer efforts. The board hopes these steps will improve trust and teamwork for better school traffic safety.
