Leeds City Council is proposing to introduce new measures on streets surrounding schools in Middleton and Halton Moor to improve access to schools and local amenities by making walking, wheeling, and cycling safer and more accessible.

Elements Primary School in Middleton, and Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School and College in Halton Moor are busy schools, with the majority of students living within a 10 minute walking distance. Despite this, they have a higher than average percentage of pupils travelling to school by car in Leeds.

The streets surrounding the schools suffer from high levels of congestion, driving and parking on pavements during school drop off and pick up times, narrow paths, and lack of safe and convenient crossings making walking, wheeling and cycling feel unsafe. The proposals aim to improve walking, wheeling and cycling routes to schools and reduce car dependency on these busy streets.

The proposals are part of the councils ongoing work to improve road safety and encourage more people to walk, wheel, and cycle.

Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, said:

“The Access to Schools project is a vital step toward creating safer, easier ways for people to choose active travel to and from school.

“Investments like this help toward our Vision Zero Strategy of eliminating serious injury and deaths on Leeds roads by 2040 by creating safer walking and cycling links in key areas of the city and improving road safety for everyone.

“We urge everyone who uses this routen – whether you walk, cycle, drive, or take the bus – to share your views and help shape the future of this area.”

(Picture: Leeds.gov.uk)