HEADTEACHERS in Abingdon are calling for a 20mph speed limit near schools in a bid to improve safety for pupils cycling to school.

The town’s six secondary schools and college are drawing up an action plan which includes new pedestrian crossings, speed humps and a cut to the speed limit on roads near schools.

It follows the death of 17-year-old Sarah Waterhouse, who was cycling to Lark-mead school when she was involved in a collision with a coach in October.

The county council has earmarked £35,000 to spend on cycle routes and schools want to have a say in how it is spent.

Chris Harris, headteacher at Larkmead, in Faringdon Road, is leading the campaign and hopes to have a plan completed by next month.

He said: “We all know it is easier to see and stop at 20mph. If cyclists are wobbling on their bicycles, motorists would be able to see this more clearly if they were driving at 20mph rather than 30mph. At 20mph, it gives more thinking time for everyone concerned.”

The schools — Larkmead, Fitzharrys, John Mason, Abingdon School, St Helen and St Katharine, and Our Lady’s — and Abingdon and Witney College claim the town’s cyclepaths do not join up with each other, forcing cyclists to share the road with motorists.

Mr Harris said: “The intention of the plan is to make it safe for pupils to cycle from one school to another without having to come into contact with any major areas of risk.”

He said installing speed humps and pedestrian crossings would be useful traffic-calming measures —particularly at the busy turning from Marcham Road into Colwell Drive, where Miss Waterhouse was killed.

Mr Harris would like to see the “dangerous” junction of Wootton Road and Copenhagen Drive imp-roved, plus work outside his school, where the cycleway is not separated from the road.

Sarah Brinkley, deputy headteacher at John Mason School, said: “It is essential our students are able to travel safely. All our children have the right to choose to cycle to school, but this requires the commitment of the whole Abingdon community.

“Everyone needs to be aware of children on bikes, and so we should all support this speed reduction around our schools.”

Oxfordshire County Co;uncil spokesman Paul Smith confirmed it was close to finalising a list of improvements to cycle routes in Abingdon and had £35,000 to spend.

He said: “We are looking to press ahead with these improvements as soon as possible. The comments from Abingdon headteachers have been noted.”

Lesley Legge, leader of Abingdon Town Council, said: “A 20mph speed limit near schools is certainly worth considering. Journeys for students to and from schools need to be as safe as possible. Concentrating on safety is essential.”