Wirral's independent local news website
Two more schools will join the trial scheme in Wirral to help make the school run safer, healthier and happier for children, families and the surrounding community.
Liscard Primary in Wallasey and Christ Church CE Primary in Birkenhead will be the next to join the ‘School Streets’ scheme in February and March 2022.
The project sees a stretch of road outside a school closed to traffic temporarily during drop-off and pick-up times. Some vehicles will be exempt, but it will reduce the build-up of traffic outside the school gates and create a predominantly car-free zone to improve safety and air quality by encouraging walking, scooting or cycling.
Cllr Liz Grey, Chair of the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee at Wirral Council, said, “The School Streets project is a significant step to encouraging more active ways of travelling to and from school.
“Not only will the scheme create more space for cyclists and pedestrians but by limiting the number of vehicles in and around the school, the project will help to clean the air and reduce pollution.
“The benefits of the scheme are for school children and their families but also the surrounding residents – reducing pollution for a healthy and calmer environment.”
All schools that become part of the School Streets programme will be supported by the council’s dedicated Active Travel Officer. Their role is to work with the local community and the school to introduce the trial scheme and make sure that it runs smoothly. To help support them, each school in the trial will also have Junior Travel Ambassadors to promote the scheme and help their peers learn and understand about safe, active and independent travel.
Residents and families will be invited to share their views about the School Street scheme once the trials start.
All feedback provided in the first six months will help the council to decide if it is working for the school and the local community and if it will achieve the goals of creating a calmer environment, improving safety, reducing traffic build-up and improving air quality.
The ‘School Streets’ scheme launched in November 2021 at Greenleas Primary School, Wallasey.
The schemes are being funded as part of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Transport Plan Capital Programme and Department for Transport Active Travel Fund Tranche 2.
For more information about the School Streets project, visit www.haveyoursay.wirral.gov.uk
As part of the scheme, all schools will be supported to adopt Modeshift STARS , a National Accreditation Scheme supported by the Department for Transport, that recognises schools demonstrating their commitment to sustainable and active travel.
Image: GOOGLE
Why not follow birkenhead.news on Facebook and Twitter? You can also send story ideas to news@birkenhead.news