A SCHOOL is still waiting for action on a “dangerous” junction over two years after a mother was hit by a car there.

Staff, teachers and parents at Woodford Green Primary School were left shaken when a mother was knocked over near the school gates in November 2014.

Her injuries were not serious, but she reported it to police, and quickly met with school governors imploring them to do something to improve road safety in Sunset Avenue and other roads near the school.

In December 2014 the school received a letter to say the section of Sunset Avenue where she had been hit falls within Redbridge, despite the school itself being in Waltham Forest.

Concerns over drivers using nearby Elm Grove and Mill Lane as a “rat run” and heavy congestion in Sunset Avenue itself continued to mount as the months went on.

Headteacher PJ Prince said: “It’s very heavily congested in the mornings.

“Most of our children walk to school with their parents, but some of older pupils walk on their own, so the whole thing is hugely worrying.

“The cars parked along Sunset Avenue mean although it’s a two-way street, traffic is nearly always reduced to just one lane.

“The children have been exposed to a myriad of arguments, road rage and colourful language over the last two years with residents, parents and people from Woodford Golf Club rowing over the traffic.”

Mr Prince, who took over as head just after the car crash in January 2015, says the “only solution” is to make Elm Grove and Mill Lane a one-way system so the morning rush is not made worse by drivers cutting through.

Since late 2014 there have been a number of site visits made by officers from both councils, letters sent back and forth, and representations made at local forums.

But after a quiet period on the part of both Waltham Forest and Redbridge, Mr Prince and his staff are making a fresh appeal for action.

He added: “This has been going on for a long time.

“We’re on the border between Waltham Forest and Redbridge, which has been a huge factor in the time it’s taken to get anything done.

“These roads are really dangerous.

“What if what happened to that mother happened to one of our children? 

“It seems like both councils keep passing the buck.

“We’re happy to work with both of them, but someone has to take the responsibility.”

MP for Chingford and Woodford Green Iain Duncan Smith offered his support to the school's campaign with a visit on Friday (February 3).

He said: “Action needs to be taken to improve the safety for parents and children coming in to the school. 

“Road safety in this area could be improved immensely by implementing a one way circuit round the square and I would urge the Council to back the measures suggested by the school.”

A Redbridge Council spokesman said; "This council is aware of this matter and has previously produced plans to solve these problems. 

"While it is always difficult to balance the access needs of some residents against the benefits of reducing traffic, we proposed a one way system that would have reduced through traffic by around a third and also addressed some concerns about congestion.

"Indeed at one point we had consulted and discussed the proposal with London Borough of Waltham Forest but before it could go ahead we received a formal objection from residents living in Waltham Forest and also the borough itself. 

"Unfortunately, the objections could not be resolved."

But deputy leader of Waltham Forest Council Cllr Clyde Loakes said: "Road safety is a top priority for the council, particularly around schools.

"If schools have concerns over road safety we are more than happy to meet the school and discuss these issues and concerns in more detail.

"However the highways authority that has the powers in this locality is Redbridge Council and despite meeting with them in April 2016 and chasing in November 2016, they seem reluctant to progress any initiatives at this time to help improve matters in this locality.

"We will continue to apply pressure on Redbridge Council to prioritise this area and secure the required funding to make safety improvements in the area."