A petition calling on council chiefs to address traffic safety concerns in a road serving four oversubscribed schools has been sent to County Hall.

Parents leading the Wilmington Safer Streets (WSS) campaign group want to see major changes made to Common Lane in Wilmington, including a five tonne weight restriction and a 20mph safety zone.

They are also calling for a clampdown on buses driving up the pavement, more signs to be put up around the schools, and parent parking zones to be introduced before any of the schools are allowed to expand.

More than 1,000 people have signed the petition and Kent County Council (KCC) has started to implement the group’s demands, with Dartford council’s Joint Transportation Board meeting this week to note the work being done.

The petition states: “The village is already buckling under the strain of school traffic and buses and further intake cannot be allowed without the above safety measures addressed.

“We have over 3,200 children already in direct danger every day. The community wants to prevent a tragedy.”

Wilmington Academy, Wilmington Grammar School for Boys (WGSB), and Wilmington Grammar School for Girls (WGSG) are served by Common Lane and have been involved in efforts to tackle the safety concerns.

The academy and WGSG have completed works to cut back overhanging vegetation contributing to large vehicles overrunning the footway, and Dartford council has extended parking restrictions in the vicinity of the academy and WGSB.

KCC has extended and relocated railings outside the academy to discourage anti-social parking and has pledged to implement a 20mph speed limit and 7.5 tonne weight limit in Common Lane.

Design work is also underway on an additional zebra crossing funded by KCC Cllr Ann Allen (Con) in the vicinity of Wilmington Primary School.

Cllr Allen said: “Any planning application that comes in that has a substantial impact on any area has to have the infrastructure in mind as well.

“Any additions to the schools have got to take into account the impact on the community.”

The academy was granted a temporary expansion in December after an agreement was reached with KCC to introduce a new footway across school land to the west of Common Lane.

Other conditions include a reduction in the number of temporary classrooms, the widening of the footway on Common Lane between Parsons Lane and the footpath up to the boundary wall, and the resurfacing of said footpath.

Two additional dedicated bus bays within the academy grounds will be provided, and the academy must discourage any inappropriate parking and permit parents to use on-site drop off facilities during the morning and afternoon peaks.