Portsmouth City Council has announced a six month trial of School Streets. Motorised traffic will be restricted during drop-off and pick-up times on roads around a number of schools in the city.
School Streets make it easier and safer for children to walk, cycle or scoot to school.
The trial will enable children, parents and carers who walk, cycle and scoot to school to have a safer and healthier car-free journey, resulting in cleaner air for everyone to enjoy.
We're working with Portsmouth City Council to introduce the trial, the first of its kind in the city.
Popular with local communities
School Streets have been a great success in other parts of the UK and have proved overwhelmingly popular with parents, pupils and local residents.
In a school street, temporary restrictions for motorised traffic are introduced to the road outside the school during drop-off and pick-up times.
The restriction applies to school traffic and through traffic, resulting in a safer, healthier environment.
Cleaner air and safer streets
This means cleaner air, and results in reduced traffic congestion in residential areas.
It can also lead to a reduction in road danger around schools.
By preventing cars from driving to the school gates, the street becomes a fun and safe place for children to walk, scoot and cycle.
Residents, blue badge holders and other pre-agreed vehicles will retain access during the restrictions.
Active travel as a regular part of the routine
Children, parents and carers will be encouraged to make walking or cycling to school a regular part of their travel routine and leave the car at home.
The trial will be carried out in two phases, each lasting seven weeks.
Phase 1 will take place between September and November and Phase 2 will be rolled out between February and April 2022.
The trial is being funded by the government’s Active Travel Fund and the Travel Demand Management Fund.
A taster day will be held in June. This will give parents the opportunity to find out more.
Listening to school communities
Cllr Suzy Horton, the city council's Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education, said
“I’m delighted that we’re able to introduce this trial of School Streets to Portsmouth.
"We’ve been listening to school communities and will carefully select the schools that have requested to take part in the trial based on casualty data and requests for better traffic control in these areas.
"I hope that parents and children will be able to embrace all the benefits that active travel brings to their lives, laying the foundations for an active and healthy future.”
Children get to school feeling alert and ready to learn
Megan Streb, partnerships manager at Sustrans, said
“We’re really pleased to be supporting Portsmouth City Council to trial the School Streets initiative.
“School Streets schemes in other parts of the country have proved beneficial for road safety and air quality. And they create a cleaner, more pleasant environment outside the school.
“In turn, School Streets increase the likelihood that children will walk or cycle to school instead of being dropped off in a car, so they get to school feeling alert and ready for a day of learning.”
To find out more about School Streets in Portsmouth email schoolstreets@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.
