School streets

The need to keep motor vehicles away from the school gate has been communicated to parents, discussed in classrooms and presented in assemblies throughout the Go Smarter active travel programme. Results of the Go Smarter activity have been positive in terms of increasing active travel, however in many areas we still need to address conflicts between parking and car use outside school gates and walking and cycling. Improving this situation with the introduction of School Streets can:

• encourage active travel, increasing the amount of exercise children are getting
• improve physical and mental health
• improve safety
• improve air quality
• help to address the climate emergency.

All schools in the borough have been evaluated against various criteria to establish their suitability and need for a School Street and it is felt that the majority would benefit from some type of School Street, although many have restrictions making this problematic due to issues such as road layout and bus routes. Several schools have already expressed a desire to take part in the scheme.