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Three more schools could join School Streets programme
Three more schools could become part of Bristol’s growing School Streets initiative.
The programme looks to improve safety, improve air quality and reduce congestion outside school gates.
St Bernadette Catholic Primary School in Whitchurch, Fair Furlong Primary School in Hartcliffe and Ashley Down Primary School look likely to be the next three schools introducing School Streets.
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It will increase the number of School Streets to 11 across the city, following an initial pilot scheme in 2020; with some campaigners saying that the initiative is not being introduced fast enough due to red tape
Despite proposals to also introduce the scheme for Cathedral Primary School and Cathedral School, these two schools miss out this time; with plans still in place but needing to wait until after the results from a survey and traffic monitoring have been analysed.
School Streets aims to transform roads outside schools so only people on foot and bike can use them – photo: Zoe Trinder-Widdess
The School Streets initiative turns the streets outside schools into “priority zones” for people to walk and cycle, as well as restricting car use at the start and end of the school day.
Only people walking, wheeling, cycling and scooting are permitted access to the School Street zone while the restriction is in place, with exemptions given to emergency vehicles and Blue Badge holders, and permits able to be given to residents and businesses living or working within the zone.
Cabinet member for transport, Don Alexander, said: “We are really ramping up our School Streets programme, and, if successful, these three new schools could bring our total number in Bristol up to 11.
“School Streets help to reduce parking, traffic congestion, and air quality issues at the school gates, while improving road safety for children and their families.
“Our aim is to also encourage active travel, and getting people into the routine of walking, cycling and scooting from a young age will help embed this with our next generation.”
Ashley Down Primary School headteacher Amy Sood added: “We continue to encourage active travel to Ashley Down and can see the benefits this has to children and families in promoting exercise and reducing traffic congestion around school.
“The School Streets programme offers an opportunity to limit road usage around the school site and create safer pavements for our families to walk on.”
Main photo of Ashley Down Primary School: Martin Booth
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