Making livable neighbourhoods
AS you may have heard, the mayor recently announced ambitious plans to pedestrianise the Old City – that is, the area around St Nick’s Market – along with proposals to make some of our busier streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists, and a School Streets scheme, getting rid of traffic and helping combat air pollution outside some of Bristol’s most-affected primary schools.
In the longer term, the council is looking at developing Liveable Neighbourhoods.
I’ve been talking to representatives of London councils in my new role as shadow Transport minister about how they’ve introduced such schemes, working with residents to regenerate their neighbourhoods, make the streets more people-friendly and reduce the need for car trips by, for example, reviving local shopping areas.
Bristol is also likely to be one of the first cities to trial e-scooters. It is currently illegal to use these on the road, but the Government has announced that this restriction will be lifted soon. It will still, rightly, be illegal to use them on the pavement.
I’m very aware that not all people are able to walk or cycle, perhaps because of their age, health or disabilities, or because they need to transport other people or things, or because of the distance they need to travel.
But it’s more important than ever to promote active travel right now because it will be a long time before public transport returns to normal.
Last week, I made my Commons debut as a shadow Transport Minister (albeit from a virtual Despatch Box in my living room!) I challenged the Government Minister as to why he hadn’t done more to talk to local councils before lockdown started to be (partially) lifted, so that they could prepare for a safety-led scaling up of passenger transport. Since then First Bus has issued details of how the company will enforce social distancing on its buses, which will mean capacity is reduced by around 75 per cent.
If public transport isn’t available, many people will feel they have no alternative but to get back into their cars, or, indeed, use them far more than they did before, bringing back all the air pollution and congestion that had disappeared from our streets during lockdown.
I’m sure none of us want this to happen, which is why it’s important that those who can walk or cycle do so, and why I am calling on the Government to do more to support local councils in their efforts.
AT least half of Bristol’s 10 biggest primary schools will not be welcoming pupils back on June 1, with several saying they need more time to prepare.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed children in reception, nursery, Year 1 and Year 6 can start to return from next Monday, despite reservations from unions and parents concerned about the spread of coronavirus.
Below is a list of Bristol’s biggest state primary schools based on pupil population, according to the government’s Compare Schools listings, and what they have told parents about reopening.
Of those where information was publicly available on their websites, just one said it intended to start its phased reopening on June 1.
Most have confirmed they will start to reopen later that week or the following week, and have informed parents of safety precautions.
A one-parent policy at drop-off and pick-up time, allowing pupils inside one at a time and a ban on personal stationery, are among changes some schools are bringing in.
The dates below are all subject to change depending on government advice and risk assessments by school leaders, and parents will not be fined for choosing not to send their children back.
» Bishop Road Primary School, Bishopston (817 pupils)
Bristol’s biggest state primary school in terms of pupil numbers, it does not expect to welcome children back on June 1.
In a letter to parents last week, deputy head Joe Emissah said: “Our plans and preparations are progressing towards the provisional reopening during the week commencing June 8.
“Our ability to open, whilst guided by the government’s position, is most significantly underpinned by the necessity to ensure that the arrangements are safe for everyone who visits our school site.
“Any return will be staggered across the first week, to support children reentering in a managed way to what will be a very different schooling experience.”
A previous letter advised parents any return to school is likely to be on a part-time basis.
» Air Balloon Hill Primary School (783 pupils)
Head Tim Browse expects to start a phased reopening of the St George school on June 8.
In a letter to parents, he wrote: “I acknowledge that this continues to be a challenging time for all of us and that the school closure is having a significant impact on our daily lives.
“Although I would love nothing more than to welcome more children back to school, I will only do so when it is safe to do so.”
The plan is to start the week of June 8 with Year 6 children, who will only attend on certain days, and Year 1 children will start to return the following week.
» Ashton Gate Primary School (730 pupils)
Children will be provided with full-time places from June 1, according to a letter sent out by executive head Gareth Jones last week.
He said there was “no pressure” for parents to send children in but reassured them of the safety measures in place.
Drop-off and pick-up times will be staggered and there will be markers on the playground and on pavements around the school.
» May Park Primary School, Eastville (629 pupils)
Plans are to welcome Year 6 and Year 1 children back on Wednesday, June 3. Reception and nursery pupils will join them the following day.
Children will be allowed into the school entrance one by one, according to a letter sent to parents last week, and they will only be allowed to be brought to school by just one parent or carer, who will not be allowed onto school premises.
The letter, from principal Vanetta
Spence, said: “Families should not mix so please do not arrange for children from different families to travel together to school, either by foot or by car sharing.
“We ask that families queue outside the specified entrance points and maintain the two metre social distancing. Please keep your child with you, and explain that they now need to be able to queue and social distance as part of the new school rules.”
Children will not be allowed any equipment except their lunch bag – other bags, stationery and reading books will not be permitted.
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Bridge Farm Primary School (627 pupils)
Reopening to reception pupils from Thursday, June 4, but with an early 1.15pm finish initially.
Year 6 are due to return from Monday, June 8, for full days, and Year 1 will not be back until Thursday, June 11.
Parents were advised in a letter last week that children’s experience of school will be “significantly different”.
Only one parent will be able to be accompany a child to and from school, and they have been asked to leave the school site immediately once they have dropped off or picked up.
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Begbrook Primary Academy (613 pupils)
The school will not be reopening on June 1 but plans will be made for pupils to return thereafter, at a date yet to be confirmed.
Cabot Learning Federation, the trust that runs the school, sent parents a letter last week from chief executive Steve Taylor.
He said: “We will not be taking in more pupils until we have taken sufficient time to provide training and induction for staff.
“This is because our commitment to prioritising the safety of all pupils and staff remains paramount.
“The training and preparation will be for staff returning to our academy sites and will be planned so that we can be sure that when pupils attend, movement around the site will be managed safely and with clear, new routines.”
None of the trust’s academies will welcome back pupils on June 1, according to the letter, but parents will be contacted that week with more details.
The following schools did not have information on their websites:
Filton Avenue Primary School (755 pupils)
West Town Lane Academy (660 pupils)
Knowle Park Primary School (623 pupils
Holymead Primary School, Brislington (606 pupils)
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❝ This continues to be a challenging time for all of us ... the school closure is having a significant impact on our daily lives
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