Residents living near Saint John’s C of E Primary School in Cheltenham were startled in the early hours of Wednesday, 5 August, when a van crashed on Albion Street, producing a noise described as sounding like an explosion.
The vehicle left the road, mounting the pavement and colliding with a post supporting traffic lights at the pedestrian crossing positioned adjacent to the school entrance. The impact caused significant damage, completely flattening the post, bending metal railings into a twisted heap, and severely damaging a brick wall marking the school boundary.
Fortunately, the school was closed for the summer holidays at the time, and there were no reported injuries. A section of pavement outside the school has since been cordoned off, and the crossing is temporarily out of service.
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A Gloucestershire Constabulary spokesperson confirmed that police were called at approximately 3.45am following the incident. “Officers attended the scene where a van had mounted the pavement and struck railings and a wall on Albion Street,” the spokesperson said. The driver was reported for driving without due care and attention, and investigations are ongoing.
One nearby resident recalled the sound vividly: “I heard the noise when it happened; it sounded like an explosion. It was really loud, possibly caused by a large vehicle or a lorry.”
Another local, new to the area, admitted he was unaware that Albion Street was prone to accidents but noted the same railing near the school had been damaged previously. He expressed relief that the incident occurred during the school holidays.
This collision is the third similar traffic accident in Cheltenham within just over two months. Earlier incidents include a lorry crashing through a central reservation on Tewkesbury Road on 4 June, and a car striking metal fencing and parked e-scooters on Oriel Road on 1 August.
Councillor Mark Harris, Gloucestershire County Council’s cabinet member for highways, commented on the situation: “We are aware of the damage to the pedestrian crossing on Albion Street. Our contractors will attend the site to remove the damaged signal pole, allowing us to reopen the footpath and install a temporary crossing. We anticipate the permanent signal pole will be replaced and the crossing fully operational by the end of next week.”