More schools join pupil safety pilot scheme
Two more schools, one in Birkenhead and the other in Wallasey, have officially launched their School Streets scheme to help improve safety and air quality around the school gates.
A School Street is a is a stretch of road outside a school that is temporarily closed to traffic during drop-off and pick-up times. Some vehicles are exempt to the restrictions, but the aim of the project is to reduce the build-up of traffic outside the school gates and create a predominantly car-free zone to improve safety and air quality by encouraging walking, scooting or cycling.
Christ Church CE launched their School Street on 28 February, with Liscard Primary following on 2 March. Both these primary schools join Greenleas (Wallasey), who started the project in November 2021.
Families and residents are invited to share their views on the trial project to help determine what is and isn’t working for each of the individual schools and their community.
All feedback provided in the first six months will help the council to decide if the schemes should be made permanent and determine if the project will achieve the goals of creating a calmer environment, improving safety, reducing traffic build-up and improving air quality for everyone.
Cllr Liz Grey, Chair of the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee at Wirral Council, said: “Travelling in an active way, whether that be cycling or walking, is something that more and more people are trying to do – and this extends to the school run.
Many schools, and therefore children, around the borough participate in a walk to school scheme and it is so important that as more people do this, that they feel safe and confident whilst doing so.
The School Streets scheme not only hopes to achieve the goal of making children and their families feel safer when travelling to school on foot or on two wheels but it also aims to minimise pollution and create a better environment for those going to the school and those that live around it.
Click here for more information and to comment on the School Streets project
The schemes are being funded as part of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Transport Plan Capital Programme and Department for Transport Active Travel Fund Tranche 2.
