Photo caption: (L-R) Anna McGreal and Becky Shevlin – Warrington Police, Gayle Riley – Maintenance Officer, St Andrews CE Primary School, Beverley Mercer – Road Safety Officer, Warrington Borough Council
Warrington Borough Council has begun a new traffic management scheme, known as ‘school streets’, to ease pressures around schools during the coronavirus pandemic.
Many schools across the borough experience a number of traffic related issues at the beginning and end of the school day. How schools manage pupils attending and leaving school in a safe COVID environment has had an impact on the highways around schools.
Warrington Borough Council is piloting a new traffic management measure known as a ‘School Street Scheme’ to create more space around schools and improve road safety.
The ‘school streets’ scheme, launched on 30 November, will see the roads directly outside schools closed to traffic during school opening and closing times. This is to create a safer environment for children going to and from school.
The restrictions will be implemented at a number of schools that currently experience traffic issues – beginning with St Andrew’s Primary School in Orford – and will be in effect for at least six months.
The rules mean that a road outside a school will temporarily close to motor traffic during a school’s opening and closing times, to create a predominantly car free zone. The scheme encourages active travel to school by walking and cycling, which in turn will help the environment by reducing congestion and pollution.
No vehicles will be able to enter the restricted zones between the times of operation, unless they have been given an exemption. Residents who live on the affected streets will be given a permit to be displayed in their vehicles. This permit will enable residents to drive through the effected zones during the restricted times.
Parents or carers who are not able to walk or cycle to school can park their vehicle outside of the school street zone and complete the journey on foot.
Cllr Hans Mundry, cabinet member for transportation, highways and public realm said: “This scheme is to ensure the health and safety of pupils and staff, as well as the parents and carers of pupils.
“By following this scheme, we can help limit the transmission of coronavirus, and ensure our children can safely get in and out of school, avoiding the congested school drop-off.”
“We’d like to thank our local schools, parents and carers for their cooperation and support of this scheme.”
You can find more details about the scheme at warrington.gov.uk/education-schools-and-childcare-coronavirus-update
If you require further information, please contact the Traffic Management team via email trafficmanagement@warrington.gov.uk
Notes to editors
Restriction times will be implemented Monday – Friday (term time), 8.20am – 9.10am and 2.10pm – 3.10pm.
The restrictions will first be implemented at St Andrews Primary School, Orford. The roads affected will be Mardale Avenue and Scafell Avenue.
