Streets around a further two West Leeds primary schools were closed to traffic during the school run from today.
Beecroft Primary School, Kirkstall and Hollybush Primary School, Bramley are among the latest raft of eight schools across the city to take part in the School Streets pilot scheme.
School Streets make roads outside schools into pedestrian and cyclist zones at the times displayed on the signs and only during term time. This helps to reduce air pollution and keep children safe from traffic.
The Leeds City Council pilot scheme uses a temporary traffic regulation order, restricting traffic to help with phased and staggered returns for those children who are going back to school. Residents living within the new school street zones have been issued with permits so that they can continue to enter and leave the zone freely.
In June, the first six Leeds schools successfully launched School Streets trials at Pudsey Primrose Hill Primary School, Pudsey; Ingram Road Primary School, Holbeck; Cross Gates Primary School, Cross Gates; Thorpe Primary School, Thorpe; Clapgate Primary, Middleton; and Lane End Primary, Beeston. These schools plan to continue with their pilots.
The council says initial feedback shows School Streets helps to make roads feel safer, improve air quality, encourage more walking, scooting and cycling to and from school, improve air quality, and reduce school-related congestion.
Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate change, transport and sustainable development, Councillor Lisa Mulherin, said:
“This is a child friendly initiative, to make the journey to school safer and healthier for Leeds children and their families. By creating a safer space for pupils to enjoy a less stressful, healthier journey by walking, cycling or scooting when they return to school we’re also promoting the physical activity that we know has a long term benefit for physical and mental health.
“Over the summer, I was pleased to receive feedback from those schools taking part, especially to hear children with confidence to walk home on their own, with many more biking, scooting or walking to school. And how much more safe they felt on the way to school. This is exactly what we’re trying to achieve and we look forward to the scheme rolling out to even more schools in future.”
The other six schools taking part in the project across Leeds also include Chapel Allerton Primary School, Chapel Allerton; Great Preston CofE Primary School, Great Preston; Hugh Gaitskell Primary School, Beeston; Middleton St Mary’s CE Primary School, Middleton; Westgate Primary School, Otley; and Woodlesford Primary School, Woodlesford.