Gunnedah school crossing needs slower speed zone, lollipop supervisor: school communities

Staff and parents at St Xavier's Primary School and St Mary's College want the stretch of Bloomfield Street between the schools to be a 40km/h zone at all hours of the day, and for a crossing supervisor to be hired.

It comes after Gunnedah Public School received a lollipop lady after years worth of lobbying.

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St Xavier's principal Jen Honner said students from both schools crossed the road in the daytime to use facilities at the opposite school, so there needed to be extra safety before, during and after the school day.

She noted that once the new Gunnedah bridge was installed traffic would ramp up, and the upgrade of the primary school would mean classes would be moved to the high school's convent, so more road crossing.

"We've already had some close calls in usually ordinary vehicles [and] we're doing everything we can to keep [students] safe but the amount of traffic is going to increase plus the trips across the roads will increase at the same time," Ms Honner said.

"It can't stay as it is, it won't be safe or as effective."

St Mary's principal Max Quirk echoed Ms Honner's words, and said it had been "a concern of our school community for years".

"We are really hopeful that the school zoning, where traffic has to slow down the whole day, will be a benefit of our students and staff in moving from one school to another," Mr Quirk said.

Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson said he had written to Regional Roads and Transport Minister Paul Toole about the issue.

"I will also be contacting Transport for NSW as the criteria for traffic wardens have changed since Gunnedah Public first began its process," Mr Anderson said.

Mr Anderson encouraged both principals to make an application for a lollipop person "at the earliest opportunity".

"I want every pupil in the state to travel to and from their schools," he said.

"That's why we introduce 40km/hr speed limits, that's why we have installed flashing lights and well-lit 40km speed zones to most schools in the region, that's why the police regularly patrol school areas when they can to ensure motorists are doing the right thing.

"I fully support a zero road toll and all the actions we can use to reach this target."