Dr Neil Hudson MP met with staff and pupils of Staples Road Primary School in Loughton to discuss his role as their representative and what he can do to improve their traffic situation.
On the day, Dr Hudson was quizzed by the school council before hosting an assembly for all Year 6 pupils where he answered a wide variety of questions from his background as a veterinary surgeon , working in Parliament, to international relations.
He also met for a more formal meeting with the Headteacher Nick Mallender. One key concern discussed was the traffic situation at Staples Road which can render the route impassable and raises significant concerns about student safety when navigating the congested route.
Dr Hudson heard from both staff and students about the problems they face getting to and from school, crossing the road, and staying safe when the road is too busy.
This represents the second meeting Dr Hudson has attended to discuss Staples Road traffic concerns and is working alongside Headteachers across Epping Forest who share similar concerns.
Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Epping Forest, said:
"What a delight it was to meet with staff and students at Staples Road Primary! The questions from the wonderful young folk were incredibly thoughtful, mature and frankly challenging.
"Mr Mallender has created an incredibly encouraging and inspiring school community, and I will do all I can to support him to deliver for our young folk and their futures.
"That said, I witnessed firsthand just how congested and potentially dangerous the traffic situation is at Staples Road during pick-up and drop-off times. This was really emphasised to me when pupils expressed their personal worries about being knocked by cars, something no 10-year-old should have to be contemplating. As such, I will work closely with Staples Road to try to sort this issue out."
Staples Road Primary School Headteacher Nick Mallender said:
"Staples Road loved welcoming Dr Neil Hudson MP to the school last Friday afternoon. On arrival Dr Hudson met with me to discuss the serious road safety issues the school experiences at drop off and pick up times. I felt heard, and Dr Hudson shared my concerns. I was reassured that he will continue to work with the school and local councillors to push the need for increased signage and explore the possibility of making Staples Road a school street.
"Dr Hudson then had a tour of the school where he asked lots about its history and the current challenges around SEND and funding. He then met with the school council and fielded a series of questions, particularly about how the road safety issues affected them. The children also loved hearing about how Dr Hudson used to be a vet.
"The afternoon ended with Dr Hudson meeting our Year 6 children in the hall and he faced a grilling on wide ranging topics, including Donald Trump's recent election victory and animal welfare. The feedback from the children was great: they felt Dr Hudson was interested in what they had to say, informative and they now understood more about the role of an MP and how they represent our local community in parliament.
"On behalf of the school I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Dr Hudson for his visit and his visible engagement with all the staff and children he met."
