Local schools help shape plan to make journeys safer

Local schools have helped to shape a plan for safer school runs for parents and children across the Borough that is set to be reviewed by senior councillors.

On Wednesday 4 March, the Council’s Cabinet will be asked to approve a new Safer Routes to School Policy, which is designed to create a wholesale approach to improving road safety around schools by combining infrastructure improvements, education, enforcement and monitoring.

To do this, the plan would see the council enhance pedestrian crossings around schools, widen footways and cycle paths, create new traffic-calming measures and implement new 20mph zones where they are supported by data and community engagement.

Schools would also be given individual targets for increasing the number of students who are walking, wheeling and cycling to school each morning. Sites for safety barriers and other traffic measures would be identified through the plan to make key routes to school safer.

The council will also be working with parking enforcement teams and with individual schools to make sure any parking restrictions are monitored and enforced.

On 26 February, the Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment and Transport, Councillor Chris Watts, visited Robert Le Kyng school to speak with young people about the proposals. The school was part of the consultation on the initial Policy to ensure that the council is aware of areas that need improvement.

Cllr Watts said: “Every child should feel safe on their way to and from school and we want to do more to make that happen. This proposal is based on feedback we have received ensuring we are taking the action that children, parents and schools want to see.

“This is about more than just introducing more traffic measures. Work needs to be done to comprehensively improve routes, improve education on road safety and to help families to away from a reliance on cars.

“While some journeys will require the use of the car, there are plenty of other ways to get to school including public transport, walking, wheeling or cycling and we want to encourage the use of these as much as possible.

“This proposal will help make the school run safer for thousands of parents across the Borough.”

Mr Dave Barnett, a teacher at Robert Le Kyng Primary School, said: "I couldn't believe the level and speed of the traffic. I also saw some of our parents and was slightly horrified. I couldn't believe they weren't using the crossing, but we're all guilty of that.

"We've all got a part to play. We need to walk more if we can, cycle if we can. Use the crossings provided.

"It's about helping the environment, getting the kids fitter but we can definitely do more to make the area safer. The children can only do what their parents do so it's important to get the message across."