Creative kids help make Ilfracombe’s roads safer with eye-catching new signs
Young pupils from Ilfracombe CofE Junior School are helping to slow down traffic near their school after creating a series of colourful road safety signs for a nearby housing development.
Pupils were invited by local housebuilder Devonshire Homes to design posters reminding drivers to reduce their speed around its new homes development, Mariner’s Haven, off Old Barnstaple Road, and the nearby school.
More than 200 children took part in the competition, producing bright and imaginative artwork based on key road safety messages. The winning designs, created by Year 4 pupil Lili and Year 5 pupil Madi, have now been turned into professional signs and installed around both the school grounds and the Mariner’s Haven development.
The bespoke new signs featuring Lili and Madi’s designs of a bus slowing down for children and a colourful reminder of how to ‘stop, look, listen, think’ were officially unveiled during a visit from Devonshire Homes, where Lili and Madi joined Head Teacher Jody Le Bredonchel for a special presentation.
Both winning pupils received a £25 toy shop voucher, and Devonshire Homes has donated £100 towards school supplies as part of its ongoing support for local education and community safety.
Jane Pearce, Sales and Marketing Director at Devonshire Homes, commented: “We’re delighted to work with Ilfracombe CofE Junior School on this creative and meaningful project which started in Road Safety Week. The pupils’ artwork will help raise awareness of safe speeds in an area used by families every day and we’re proud to see their designs making a real difference.”
Jody Le Bredonchel, Head Teacher at Ilfracombe CofE Junior School, commented: “We are grateful to Devonshire Homes for engaging our pupils in such a positive initiative. The children have really embraced the challenge and are excited to see their work displayed around the school and Mariner’s Haven. It has been a fun and practical way to reinforce important road safety messages.”
Local residents can see the attractive new signs around the development at Mariner’s Haven, which offers a collection of new 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes and is open for appointments Thursday- Monday 10am-5pm.
Independent housebuilder Devonshire Homes, based in Tiverton, has been creating new homes and communities across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset since 1992. Current developments include Mariner’s Haven, Ilfracombe; Sun Houses, Yelland; Chilla Junction, Halwill Junction; The Grange, Bideford; Dancing Green, Wincanton; Hornblower Heights, Mabe; and Longston Cross II, Bovey Tracey.
