RESIDENTS are celebrating after plans to make unpopular changes to roads around two schools were sent back to the drawing board.

Parents complaining about traffic congestion during peak times, at West Leigh junior and infant schools, in Ronald Hill Grove, Leigh, campaigned to have a crossing installed, handing Southend Council a 263-name petition.

However, the plans put forward to improve safety, by making parts of Westleigh Avenue and Ronald Hill Grove one-way, and install speed bumps around the schools, were unpopula with some.

Now, members of the council’s traffic and parking working party have voted to draw up new plans and re-examine the possibility of a crossing. The decision has been welcomed by many parents of pupils and neighbours living near the school.

In the meantime, the group has said the school gate in Westleigh Avenue should be widened to ease congestion.

West Leigh councillor Gwen Horrigan, who addressed the committee, said: “This gave us a bulging postbag, an avalanche in fact, and the majority were against this scheme in total.

“This situation we find ourselves in with West Leigh schools is caused by very, very few parents who are in a rush to get to work. We all understand that, but some of them don’t even bother to stop their vehicles.

“They just pull up on the zig-zag lines, keeping the engine running, and Johnny and Jane are pushed out and they are off, with no consideration even for the safety of their own children.”

The council sent out 578 letters about the plans and received 162 replies. Only 48 people favoured the scheme.

Mum-of-two Audrey Eley, of Marine Avenue, Leigh, was among the ten or so residents who attended the meeting, all of who welcomed the decision to rethink the plans.

Speaking after the meeting, Mrs Eley, 44, who set up the crossing petition, said: “It’s not over yet, but there’s hope now. It’s brilliant news, common sense has prevailed. I’m so pleased everyone made their voices heard, and I wasn’t alone in feeling there’s a need for a crossing.

“This area is becoming extremely congested. It’s very challenging even for adults to get across that road safely at peak times.”