A KCC Highways revelation it has found money to introduce a school safety zone has been welcomed by a campaigner.

Swale Borough Council’s Leysdown and Warden representative, Cllr Pat Sandle, has been calling for improved safety measures outside the St Clement site of Eastchurch Primary School in Leysdown Road since it opened almost three years ago.

Her concerns have been for the 40mph limit and the authority has agreed to bring in a part-time 20mph limit to be in place at drop-off and pick-up times.

This will be highlighted with flashing lights and warning signs to show the speed limit and the triangular school warning image.

The £20,000 project will see the road’s 40mph markings removed and slow signs introduced.

All signage outside the building which does not have a road safety purpose will be taken down, including the brown tourism board for Leysdown which will be relocated.

The new scheme will be implemented during the 2014/15 financial year but there is not a date yet for the work. KCC Highways is in the process of consulting with the school, parish councils, emergency services and councillors for the area.

Traffic engineer Steve Darling noted the road had been a source of concern and said a petition was received last year signed by 80 people requesting changes.

He said: “The proposed changes are intended to raise driver awareness of the proximity of the school.

“The above changes have been developed to take into account the engineering constraints of this section of road.

“As the main route into and out of Leysdown, it is not desirable to introduce physical traffic calming measures that could impede the passage of emergency vehicles, or require a road closure in order to build or repair them.

"We will monitor the effect of the proposals to establish the impact in comparison to current vehicle speeds that have been measured along this stretch of road.”

Cllr Sandle said she would still like to see a pedestrian crossing instead of a crossing point.

“It’s not everything we want but it’s a start and it’s a relief we are getting the speed down,” she said.