Oxford,
13
July
2022
|
16:40
Europe/London

Consultation open to make school streets safer

School Gates Larkrise - ok

People can now have their say on a proposal for permanent measures to restrict motor vehicle access to four school streets during school start and finish times to create a safer environment for children, parents and teachers to walk, wheel or cycle to school.

Championed by Oxfordshire County Council, and supported by Sustrans, the school streets programme initially ran as a trial with nine schools last year under an experimental trial regulation order (ETRO). Following some great results from the trial, four of the participating schools now wish to make the school streets programme permanent from September 2022. 

The participating schools are Larkrise Primary School, St Ebbe’s Church of England Primary School and Windmill Primary School in Oxford, and St Nicolas Church of England Primary School in Abingdon.

The measures propose to restrict traffic from the road accessing each participating school’s entrance for around 45 minutes each during school start and finish times during term time only. Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras will be operated during these times and permanent signs at the road entrances will be used to warn and inform people.

People can have their say online on Let’s Talk Oxfordshire until 26 August 2022.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Management, said: “Safe streets are essential to build confidence and encourage children and their parents to walk, wheel or cycle. School streets create a welcoming and attractive environment where children can thrive, be healthier and happier because they have the added benefit of reducing air pollution and traffic congestion.

“School streets will help embed active travel habits amongst children as they grow. This will contribute to our vision of making walking, cycling, public and shared transport the natural first choice for everyone. I am delighted that several schools from the trial reported that the programme worked very well for them and are committed to continuing with it. The sterling input from school communities and local residents to help achieve this success cannot be understated. 

We look forward to hearing your views on our consultation to make these school streets safer and encourage other schools wishing to participate to contact us.”

Schools wishing to join future school streets trials are invited to contact the schools active travel team by emailing schoolsactivetravel@oxfordshire.gov.uk .

Ends

For more information about this release contact the Oxfordshire County Council communications team on 01865 323870 or email press.office@oxfordshire.gov.uk

 

Notes 

  • More about school streets can be found on our website
  • You can read the results from the 2021/2022 school streets trial online. The report was written for Oxfordshire County Council by Sustrans
  • Sustrans is a charity group dedicated to making it easier for people to walk and cycle, by supporting in creating healthier places and happier people