HALF a million pounds is to be spent on making the roads safer for schoolchildren.

Swindon Council is set to unveil a series of 20mph zones around the town's schools at a meeting on April 1.

It is not yet known which schools will be involved, but some are already seeing the benefit thanks to estate-wide speed limits.

One such area is Parks, where the 20mph limit is enforced with measures such as speed bumps. The same will happen around schools.

Council officers stress that the aim is not just to slow down traffic immediately outside schools but also to reduce the speed of cars in whole residential areas.

They hope this will encourage more people to walk or cycle to school, which would mean fewer cars near schools and further reduce the risk of accidents.

Mike Welsh, headteacher of Goddard Park Primary and Swindon secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, has already seen the benefit of a 20mph zone outside his school, thanks to the limit on the whole of the Parks estate.

He said: "We are delighted the council is looking at introducing these zones.

"Anything that supports children's safety is something we are pleased about. The zone outside our school has only recently been installed, so it is difficult to see the overall impact yet, but you can see cars slowing down over the bumps. So far so good."

The full details of the plans will be revealed in a report to go before the council's Neighbourhood and Services Commission on April 1.

The plan has the backing of South Swindon MP Julia Drown, who recently highlighted the need to reduce speed limits during questions at the House of Commons.

She said: "I have been pushing the idea of 20mph speed limits outside schools for a long time .

"Parents in Swindon tell me that in reducing speed limits they want factors outside just actual accidents to be taken into consideration, such as the fear of accidents and the effect this has on parents and children, as well as environmental issues."

Swindon Council spokesman Gavin Calthrop said: "Councillors will consider all the options and the report will be presented to committee on April 1."

Road safety campaigner Dawn Dolphin, who has fought for traffic calming measures in Langstone Way outside Westlea School, said: "I have been campaigning alongside Julia Drown. If we can protect just one child from being knocked down, it is all worth while."