Actively making school road safer
SCHEME ENCOURAGES PARENTS TO LEAVE THE CAR AT HOME
PARENTS have praised new road safety measures as a growing number of streets outside primary schools go car-free.
Families living in Sherwood said they enjoy starting their day with walking their children to school in the morning, and picking them up in the afternoon.
The new measures, introduced in September, aim to make the roads outside schools safer by preventing vehicles from accessing the roads immediately outside school gates as part of plans to tackle air pollution from car exhausts.
Residents only access signs have been installed and it is hoped the scheme will encourage people to walk, cycle, scoot or ‘park and stride’ to school instead.
It comes after a number of trial schemes carried out by Nottingham City Council proved popular last academic year following public consultation.
The Post visited Carrington Primary and Nursery School in Sherwood where parents and pupils were on Jenner Street on their way for the start of the school day.
Laura Scrivener, a support worker from Carrington, had dropped her child at the gate and said: “We all stand by it - I think it is a great idea.”
The 25-year-old added: “There is a lot of parking available in the area anyway so nothing is stopping you from driving your child to school if you really want to.
“I think it is safer for the children so obviously we are happy with it.”
The on-street measures will be complemented by a range of other activities including school assemblies on the benefits of active travel, lessons to improve cycle and scooter skills, and the loan of bikes and scooters to enable children who don’t have their own to enjoy a more active school run.
Parent and caterer Adam Jones, of Carrington, 36, said: “I think it is a great idea because it is much safer for the children.
“It is less cars driving in the area now so that means less pollution as well.
“The majority of us live in the area anyway so we can easily walk our children to school.
“The are other options as well like buses running in the neighbourhood.
“It is safer - and I do not mind a bit of fresh air in the morning.”
School Streets schemes, funded through the Government’s Active Travel Fund and Access Fund, will be running at a number of schools in the city including Carrington Primary and Nursery School, St Augustine’s Catholic Primary and Nursery School, Sycamore Academy and others.
Councillor Rosemary Healy, the City Council’s portfolio holder for Transport, said: “Active travel has been a really hot topic since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, with adults and children alike discovering the benefits of walking and cycling more.
“Getting active on the school run has so many benefits, warming up both mind and body ahead of the school day.
“Parents have told us they value that time in the morning, or on the way home, sharing quality time and having conversations you might not have in the car.
“We want to make it as easy as possible for people to choose to walk or cycle, reducing the number of short car journeys and air pollution in the city, while improving both physical and mental wellbeing. Everyone in the city benefits from safer streets, cleaner air, and lower carbon emissions.”
However, not everyone is convinced - with some parents saying there should be some access on the road.
Parent Marcus Gordon, added: “Obviously it should not be open to everyone.
“But I think it should be accessible to parents.”