1 September
A growing number of car-free School Streets will be in force outside primary schools in the city this term, as schools reopen following the summer holidays.
They aim to make the roads outside schools safer, preventing vehicles from accessing the roads immediately outside school gates, removing harmful air pollution from car exhausts, and in turn encouraging people to walk, cycle, scoot or ‘park and stride’ to school instead.
A number of trial schemes proved popular last year, and car-free streets will now be introduced outside several more schools, following public consultation earlier in the year.
The on-street measures will be complemented by a range of other activities, delivered by Nottingham City Council in partnership with charities Sustrans and Ridewise.
These include school assemblies on the benefits of active travel, lessons to improve cycle and scooter skills, and the loan of bikes and scooters to enable children who don’t have their own to enjoy a more active school run.
Support is available to schools involved in the School Streets scheme, to apply for grants to pay for cycle shelters and scooter racks. Residents living near School Streets should look out for their Travel Choices packs, which provide information about local walking and cycling opportunities.
Parents and carers can also sign up to Operation: School Run, where they’ll receive a mission every week for children to complete on the way to or from school to warm up minds and feet for the day ahead.
Councillor Rosemary Healy, the City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Transport, said: “Active travel has been a really hot topic since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, with adults and children alike discovering the benefits of walking and cycling more.
“Getting active on the school run has so many benefits, warming up both mind and body ahead of the school day. Parents have told us they value that time in the morning, or on the way home, sharing quality time and having conversations you might not have in the car.
“We want to make it as easy as possible for people to choose to walk or cycle, reducing the number of short car journeys and air pollution in the city, while improving both physical and mental wellbeing. Everyone in the city benefits from safer streets, cleaner air, and lower carbon emissions.”
The School Streets projects and complementary measures have been funded using grants secured through the Government’s Active Travel Fund and Access Fund.
School Streets schemes will be running at:
- Carrington Primary and Nursery School, Sherwood
- St Augustine’s Catholic Primary and Nursery School, Mapperley
- Sycamore Academy, St Ann’s
- Stanstead Primary and Nursery School, Bulwell Forest
- Highbank Primary and Nursery School, Clifton East
- Greenfields Community School, The Meadows
- William Booth School, Dales
- Robert Shaw School, Leen Valley
- Jubilee Academy, Bilborough
- Brocklewood School, Bilborough
- Henry Whipple School, Bestwood
