Traffic congestion frustrates school authorities

On the 9th of January, citizen journalist Jimmy Leow produced a video highlighting the dillema faced by Keow Kuang Chinese Primary School’s board of directors.

They were asking for an emergency access road next to land on which a developer is working on. The many appeals denied has cause frustrations to escalate.

The article and video may be found on:

http://komunitikini.com/penang/school-emergency-access-dilemma

Today, Leow highlights the congestion faced by parents and teachers of Keow Kuang Chinese Primary School every morning.

The “emergency access” road in question is located next to the school, but once the developer starts to build the gated community next to the school, the emergency access will be completely obstructed.

Currently, children with bicycles and those walking home will exit the school compound using this emergency exit. The road next to the school has been there for ages, the developers want to use it for their housing project.

The developer has yet to closed the road and it is open for the school to use until the final verdict from local council on 19th Jan 2012.

The reason behind school authorities fighting tooth and nail for the emergency exit to remain is because, in case of fire, the fire department will have a tough time reaching the school in time during school peak hours.

With the emergency access, it provides an alternative escape route.

The gated community housing project will secure the community but at the expense of the safety of school going children.