Speed bumps and a 20mph limit will be introduced in a bid to boost safety for pupils and their families.

The speed limit in St James’s Road by Castle High School and Visual Arts College, which has around 1,000 students, will be cut by 10mph as part of the £15,000 scheme. Speed humps will also be installed at five locations along a stretch of the the road, which is also home to two private day nurseries.

Some residents living in the street had objected to the proposals raising concerns about the humps outside their homes but Dudley Council is due to approve the safety measures at a meeting next week. Cllr Ken Finch, who represents the Castle and Priory ward, said:

“It does get very hectic down there before and after school and we’ve had one or two accidents. It was decided that something needed to be done to make it safer for everybody and this is what the council officers have come up with.

“There’s also a been a problem with people parking in the road so we have been looking at that too,” he added.

Under the proposals, due to be approved by Cllr Hilary Bills, cabinet member for environmental services, speed humps will be installed between the junctions with The Parade and Trinity Road. The 20mph will also be in place along the same stretch. Road markings will also be introduced to make drivers aware of the measures.

Three residents had objected to the proposals with the two saying they were concerned about potential discomfort, vehicle damage and noise from the speed bumps. The council said it was following Government guidelines for the height of the humps and the spacing of them along the road.

Other comments received were that the proposed new roads markings and highlighted coloured road surface were visually intrusive, but the council said it was important to warn motorists in advance of the bumps.

The project is part of the council’s Safer Routes to School scheme, which has already seen many 20mph limits introduced in other parts of the borough.