A set of colourful road markings painted outside two schools have been met with criticism from parents, who claim they are dangerous and resemble a game of “Twister.” The collage of brightly coloured triangles, circles and other shapes has been painted outside Oakfield Academy and Critchill School in the town of Frome, Somerset. A cycling charity was given more than £146,000 of taxpayers’ money to design and build the markings.
The markings were introduced as part of a scheme by Frome town council to slow down traffic and make streets safer outside the two schools. However, parents have criticized the scheme, saying the markings are confusing and make it more dangerous for children, especially those with special educational needs.
Confusing and Dangerous? Parents Speak Out
Craig Adams, whose eight-year-old autistic son attends Critchill School, told ITV Westcountry: “They’re round dots, they mirror a lot of the things in the playground. My son has autism, additional needs, so to try and explain to him that it’s safe to play in the playground, but the same colours, the same shapes and things on the road are not a safe space to play. That can be very difficult for him to understand.”
Another parent echoed these concerns, stating: “I think it’s very dangerous. I feel like it’s an accident waiting to happen. None of these road markings are in the Highway Code. Personally, I feel that the coloured markings in the roads are confusing for children, especially special needs children and first school children. It’s like a playground. They feel that they can jump in the spots. My daughter thought it looked like Twister in the road.”
£146,000 Scheme Under Fire
Sustrans, a cycling charity, was paid £146,766.30 to design and carry out the work near the schools, according to financial statements on the council website. The charity has a history of lobbying politicians for more low-traffic neighborhoods.
Council and Sustrans Respond
Cllr Anita Collier, from Frome town council, acknowledged the concerns and stated: “We want desperately to have that feedback. These things can be changed. Sustrans have actually made changes to their designs throughout the country. We know that that’s possible. It will come as a cost. But this whole scheme has been funded by government money that comes from the Department of Transport.”
A spokesman for Sustrans defended the design, explaining: “Colourful street markings are a common proposal in school street designs. They alert drivers to the fact that there may be people around the street and, as part of a larger package of traffic-calming measures, encourage them to slow down. The street markings around Frome safer school streets were created through a collaborative co-design process with the community including pupils from the local schools. Residents from the local streets helped to choose the designs.”
A Question of Safety and Cost
The controversy highlights a growing debate about the effectiveness and design of traffic calming measures, particularly in areas frequented by children. While the intention of the scheme is to improve safety and encourage sustainable transport, the backlash from parents raises serious questions about the design process and the impact on children with special needs. The scheme's cost and whether it was the best use of taxpayer funds also remains a point of contention. As the council considers potential changes to the markings, it must carefully weigh the safety concerns raised by parents against the broader goals of the Safer School Streets project.
The debate surrounding the Frome school street scheme is not isolated. Similar projects have faced criticism in other parts of the UK. For example, a scheme in Finchampstead, Berkshire, featuring oak leaves at a pedestrian crossing, was labelled by locals as “deadly” due to concerns about its visibility and safety. The Frome case underscores the importance of careful planning, community engagement, and a thorough understanding of the needs of all road users when implementing traffic calming measures.
