'School Streets' project underway in Hampshire
It's to make it safer for children to walk, cycle or scoot to class
From today (September 2nd), three schools in Hampshire are taking part in a scheme to make it safer for children to walk, cycle or scoot to lessons.
The 'School Streets' trial involves selected roads being closed to non-essential traffic at school drop-off and pick-up times on school days.
The scheme is being trialled on Ashburton Road, outside Alverstoke Infant School in Gosport, Harrison Road, outside Harrison Primary School in Fareham, and Mary Drake Close and Whitefield Road outside Cadland Primary School Holbury,
It will test how a healthier and safer environment for young people walking and cycling to school could be achieved.
The ‘School Streets’ trial will involve selected roads on the approach to the schools being closed to non-essential traffic at school drop-off and pick-up times on school days only.
Hampshire County Council’s Executive Member for Highways Operations, Councillor Russell Oppenheimer, said:
“I am very pleased to see this scheme will be getting underway. The benefits of doing this could be fantastic, both in terms of improving the physical and mental wellbeing of young people and parents, but also reducing traffic which, in turn, improves air quality and, more widely, will help contribute to the county’s goal of becoming carbon neutral.
“I encourage all parents to support the pilot as far as possible by enabling children to walk or cycle to school instead of travelling by car. I’d also ask motorists to respect the road closures and allow extra time for their journeys.”
The trials will be used to investigate the impact of the scheme on schools and their wider communities – helping to determine how feasible the scheme is, especially in more complex scenarios and school settings.
The closures will be managed by trained stewards in high-visibility vests between 8.15am and 9am, and 2.30pm and 3.30pm.
Certain exemptions apply, including anyone cycling, residents, emergency services, school transport, blue badge holders, deliveries, businesses within affected area of the street and carers of residents on the street.
Any parking restrictions will operate as normal. Unless exempt, parents will not be permitted to drive into the closure zone to drop off or pick up their children.