A trial scheme to cut out traffic outside schools to help make roads safe for children and encourage them to walk or cycle is being rolled out in Bury.
Guardian Angels RC Primary School on Leigh Lane will have a "School Street" in operation outside its premises during peak times in the morning and afternoon.
"School Street" schemes close the road 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.
But residents and businesses will still be allowed on the street to use the road if they drive at a walking pace and they show a valid permit.
The scheme was set up in partnership with the school, the council, Living Streets and Transport for Greater Manchester.
Chesham Primary School on Talbot Grove has also agreed to implement a "School Street" later this year.
No date has been confirmed yet.
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Cllr Alan Quinn, cabinet member for the environment, climate change and operations at the council, said: “School Streets cut traffic and congestion outside schools, which will help to keep our children safe.
“The air quality will also improve thanks to the reduction in engines idling during busy drop-off and pick-up times.”
The Guardian Angels scheme is also 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.
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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 takes part in the walk to school challenge from Living Streets (WOW).
Since starting WOW this academic year, the schools active journey rates have increased by 15 per cent.
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Project Coordinator at Living Streets, Dan O’Connell, said: “We’re thoroughly enjoying working with Guardian Angels Primary School to run WOW and promote the health, social and environmental benefits that come from walking to school.
“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.”
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