Road safety in Ward End, Birmingham
The petition of residents of Ward End in the constituency of Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North,
Declares that Birmingham City Council, in collaboration with local residents, must seek to address the safety of local children around Thornton School, by implementing a one-way system on St Agatha’s Road, and Bamville Road.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to work with Birmingham City Council to implement a one-way system on St Agatha’s Road and Bamville Road in Ward End, to ensure the safety of both residents and their vehicles on the roads.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Liam Byrne, Official Report, 12 November 2025; Vol. 775, c. 279.]
[P003131]
Observations from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Lilian Greenwood):
The Government are grateful for your petition regarding the safety of children around Thornton school and the request for implementation of a one-way system. We recognise the strength of feeling within the local community and understand their concerns about ensuring that roads near schools are safe.
The Department for Transport is committed to supporting local authorities in their efforts to improve road safety, including for pedestrians.
Responsibility for traffic management including the implementation of one-way systems on local roads rests with the relevant local authority—in this case Birmingham city council. The Government’s view is that these authorities are best placed to assess local needs and determine appropriate interventions, and I am sure that they will want to engage with you, children, parents and staff from Thornton school.
One-way systems are one option available in managing traffic but it is for local authorities to determine if it is appropriate in these circumstances. There are other options that may improve road safety near schools, including lowering speed limits, re-routing traffic and providing pedestrian crossings.
The Department for Transport provides good practice guidance through documents such as the “Traffic Signs Manual” and the “Manual for Streets”, which prioritises consideration of pedestrian needs.
Thank you for drawing this issue to my attention.