Schoolchildren are going out into the community to drive home the health and safety message about reducing traffic outside schools.
The year six children, from Urmston and Flixton, are helping to launch the School Street Programme which will introduce temporary restrictions on traffic outside schools during drop-off and pick-up. The temporary road closures will allow parents and children to have the freedom to walk safely in the streets at the beginning and the end of the school day, in a traffic-free environment.
This work is being done as part of the wider Urmston Active Neighbourhood scheme that saw the One Trafford Partnership awarded £11 million as part of the mayor’s challenge fund (MCF). This funding has been designed to support the development of a transport network, which helps us switch to more sustainable travel choices for short journeys, such as walking or cycling.
The primary schools taking part are Flixton Primary School, Urmston Primary School and English Martyrs RC Primary School. Headteacher, Jason Redmond from Flixton Primary, said:
“Our school is delighted to take part in this initiative and we have always encouraged our children to think about the environment. Our pupils are spreading the message that the way journeys are made to school have to change to ensure the area is healthier and a greener school environment. We want to encourage as many parents as possible and children to walk to school, and for those that have to drive to school, to park away from the school entrance.”
Trafford Council’s Executive Member Environmental and Regulatory Services, Cllr Stephen Adshead, said:
“Busier local roads are a proven cause of reduction in social connections as they damage neighbourhood life. A number of early deaths in Britain are linked to air pollution created by motor vehicles. There is also evidence that it harms children’s health, with increased incidents of asthma around busy streets.
Our commitment to tackling the climate emergency means moving towards reducing emissions from vehicles. Creating neighbourhoods which are less reliant on cars is one way to achieve this. We will continue to work with schools, to highlight the proven benefits of cycling and walking instead of using the car and promote active travel as the safest way to travel to school, as well as helping to improve air quality and respond to the ongoing issue of climate change.”
The School Streets Programme highlights the benefits of reducing traffic at the school gates. By creating safer streets, parents and pupils are encouraged to actively walk or cycle to school.
To find out more about the Urmston Active Neighbourhood, visit www.trafford.gov.uk/urmstonactiveneighbourhood
Posted on Tuesday 15th February 2022