St Peter's CE Primary School explores School Street scheme

St Peter's CE Primary School is seeking people's views on the School Street scheme, which closes off the road to vehicles from outside the area - with some exceptions - from out of the area at peak times.

The scheme is currently being trialled at a school in Bury and parents have backed it, saying it is a more pleasant experience travelling to school describing it as "cleaner and safer"

Under the "School Street" scheme, roads near schools are closed to certain vehicles for short periods during peak drop-off and pick-up times, like from 8am to 8.45am and 2.15pm to 3.30pm.

Marshals put out signs, cones and barriers to stop non-residents driving through the area.

Residents and businesses are not be affected.

Now St Peter's CE School in Farnworth is asking people to have their say on the scheme.

A "School Streets" open day will take place at the school on May 16 from 3.30pm,

The poster states:"Let's make our school streets car-free.

"We want streets outside schools to be free from cars at the start and end of the day so the pupils can walk, scout or cycle safety to school."

Headteacher Lynn Williams told The Bolton News: "This latest development comes on the back of the pupil led 'Tuesday Trotters' initiative, where children are encouraged to walk, scoot or cycle to school each day, but particularly on Tuesday.

Tuesday Trotters when it was launched

"Our pupil leadership team are working hard to promote three things - cleaner air, safer streets around school at collection and drop off time and increased physical exercise for our pupils, leading to better health.

"With support from governors, Bolton Council's active lives team and our community we see this school streets initiative as a really positive way to support all three of these aims.

"We are really excited to get the project off the ground and this community meeting is bringing us a step closer to a safer and healthier future for our children."

The Bury scheme is backed by Greater Manchester’s Active Travel Commissioner Dame Sarah Storey, a cyclist and swimmer who won 28 Paralympic medals, including 17 golds.

In November, Dame Sarah unveiled a new policy, Refreshing Greater Manchester’s Active Travel Mission, highlighting the benefits of active travel and why it is fundamental to the success of other key agendas for the region, including a "vision zero" recommendation for road danger reduction.

Dame Sarah said: “A School Street’s main function is to improve the safety of children as they head to and go home from school.

“With Vision Zero a key recommendation within my recent Refresh the Mission report, local interventions like this make a significant contribution to reducing road danger.

“Whether it's pavement parking, struggling to cross the road due to the volume of vehicle traffic or speeding drivers, many parents tell me it just doesn't feel safe to head to school on foot or allow older children to go alone.

“It's great to see that Bury are trialling this School Street, with the park and stride locations still facilitating those who live outside walking distance of their school or who need to drive somewhere else after dropping off.

“Resident access is unaffected by these measures and in other areas School Street measures are welcomed by residents who are often affected by people blocking their normal access route.”

Guardian Angels Primary School in Bury is running the trial and takes part in the walk to school challenge from Living Streets (WOW).

Project Coordinator at Living Streets, Dan O’Connell, said: “We know that unsafe speeds, pavement parking and road danger can put families off walking to school.

“This new School Street will remove those barriers, making it easier, safer and more attractive for even more pupils and their families to choose to walk.”