Parents say they're over the moon after cars were banned at pick up and drop off times around a Bury school.
A ‘School Street’ traffic-free environment now exists outside Guardian Angels Primary School in Bury during peak times in the morning and afternoon.
‘Park and stride’ areas at peak times have also been set up a distance away from the Leigh Lane school for those who live further than walking distance. A second Bury school, Chesham Primary, has also agreed to implement a ‘school street’ from a date later this year.
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School Street schemes close the road to certain vehicles for short periods during peak drop-off and pick-up times between 8am-8.45am and 2.15pm-3.30pm. School staff put out signs, cones and barriers to stop non-residents driving through the area. The scheme allows residents and blue badge holders picking up children to use the roads if they drive at a walking pace.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service visited the school at home time on Wednesday, January 18, the third day of operation for ‘school street’, and found parents and staff were delighted with the way it is going.
Head teacher, Damian Arthur, said: “Melrose Avenue leads directly up to the school gates and is a cul-de-sac. There have been near misses with children and occasional bumps and scrapes with residents’ cars as parents turn round in the tight space right next to the main school gates.
“The idea has been around for more than a year and we wanted to include all parties, particularly our neighbours who live close to the school, so everyone was supportive of the scheme.
“Having the area outside the school vehicle free is not only safer, it means the air is cleaner and it also supports our drive for more children to walk to school.”
Sarah Jackson, from Elton, has two girls aged nine and six at the school. She said: “It a nicer experience arriving and leaving the school. We use a ‘park and stride’ area at a nearby car park and my girls enjoy the walk. They’ve been given reward badges to encourage them to walk and were excited by that.”
Debbie O’Boyle is a retired former teacher at the school who was picking up her granddaughter. She said: “It’s cleaner, it’s safer and it’s a more pleasant environment around the school gates for all. I think it’s a fantastic idea.”
Liz Horrocks, was picking up her daughters aged five and three from the school. She said: “It does make you feel safer, knowing it won’t be clogged with cars outside the gates, especially having really young ones with me.”
The initiative is a partnership between the school, Bury Council, Living Streets and Transport for Greater Manchester with the hope more children will walk or cycle to classes. Coun Alan Quinn, Bury Council cabinet member for the environment, climate change and operations, said: “School streets cut traffic and congestion outside schools, which will help to keep our children safe.
“The air quality will also improve thanks to the reduction in engines idling during busy drop-off and pick-up times.”
The Guardian Angels scheme is also backed by Greater Manchester’s active travel commissioner, Dame Sarah Storey.
She said: “Local interventions like this make a significant contribution to reducing road danger. Whether it’s pavement parking, struggling to cross the road due to the volume of vehicle traffic or speeding drivers, many parents tell me it just doesn’t feel safe to head to school on foot or allow older children to go alone. It’s great to see that Bury are trialling this School Street, with the park and stride locations still facilitating those who live outside walking distance of their school or who need to drive somewhere else after dropping off.
“Resident access is unaffected by these measures and in other areas School Street measures are welcomed by residents who are often affected by people blocking their normal access route.”
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