Plan to ban cars from near some schools

Plans to ban traffic from outside selected schools in Perth and Kinross will be enforced after the Easter holidays.

The‘School Exclusion Zones’will be rolled out at Balhousie, Guildtown, Inch View and Kinloch Rannoch primary schools - affecting Muirton Place, School Road, Craigie Place and Allt Mor Crescent respectively.

Perth and Kinross Council is bringing forward the plan as part of the Spaces for People project and aims to support physical distancing by restricting unnecessary traffic around school gates.

The proposals were first raised in September 2020, but were halted following concerns from parents and neighbouring residents.

But the scheme for the four locations has been given the go ahead and will require residents to apply for free permits,

A fifth scheme is also being planned for Blairgowrie Community Campus, where Newhill Primary and St Stephen’s RC Primary are located, affecting Smithfield Crescent, McLaren Park and Blackthorn Place, but a start date is yet to be specified.

The PA understands parents have also been informed about similar plans for Viewlands Primary, Fairview School and Perth Academy, which would affect eight surrounding roads overall.

The council’s head of environment and consumer services Mark Butterworth said:“The safety of our school pupils is paramount and school exclusion zones are being created, as part of the Spaces for People project, to support physical distancing by restricting unnecessary traffic around school gates so there is more room for pedestrians and cyclists.

“Residents within a restricted area will have permits that always grant them access.

“Permits would also be issued to carers, school staff, businesses and other essential users.

“Buses and taxis on school contracts will be exempt while servicing and deliveries to properties within the zone will also be unaffected.”

Environment and infrastructure convener and Carse of Gowrie representative Angus Forbes said:“I have always been in favour of school exclusion zones, anything that keeps our children safe has to be a good thing and if it encourages parents to walk their children to school, where possible, then that’s an added bonus.

“The concern that I picked up from the majority of parents was about the lack of consultation, so I was delighted that we were able to go back to the drawing board and revisit that aspect of the process.

“I’ve seen school exclusion zones in action and the parents I spoke to there really liked them once they got used to the idea.”