Street outside primary school shut to protect pupils from cars

A ROAD has been closed outside a primary school to protect children from traffic and pollution in what is thought to be the first move of its kind.

Officials in Camden, North London, said cars are too dangerous for pupils when they are walking to and from school.

So the council has closed the street outside St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School between 8.30am and 9.15am, and again between 3.15pm and 4.00pm.

Bollards are placed at either end of the long street at these times and traffic is diverted to alternative routes.

The drastic step comes amid growing fears over the health of children attending schools in polluted cities. Scientists say nitrogen dioxide, which is emitted by cars, can harm children’s lungs, stunt their growth and increase the risk of diseases such as asthma and lung cancer.

Teachers at St Joseph’s said the closure was a trial but if successful the arrangements would be made permanent.

Part of the issue with the road is that the pavements are too narrow for children to reach school safely, they said.

The school, which has 300 pupils, said there had been about a 50 per cent reduction in children arriving by car.

Deputy head Nicola Scott-Phillips told the BBC there has been a ‘really positive reaction’ from the community.

Parent Michelle Zini-Lopes said she had been anxious walking her child to school in the past because lorries got too close to the pavement. She added: ‘I’ve witnessed parents being clipped by large vans and lorries that shouldn’t be coming down this road anyway.’

Camden Council said it believed it was the first time in the country a road had been closed during school rush hour.

Spokesman Phil Jones said: ‘Hopefully it will spread. We’ve got a lot of problems in London with pollution and car domination so this is one way we can tackle those problems.’

Campaigners say poisonous air contributes to the deaths of 9,400 Londoners a year. London mayor Sadiq Khan, who has made pollution a priority issue, recently announced a new £10 charge for the most polluting vehicles, which he hopes will cut the number of cars on the road.