A trial scheme aimed at reducing traffic congestion, improving safety and the outside environment and encouraging active travel, like walking and cycling, is due to launch at a school near Anlaby in February.
East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s sustainable transport team, in partnership with the school and supported by Humberside Police, is carrying out further trials of the initiative called School Streets outside Acre Heads Primary School in Welbourn Walk, Norland Avenue, from Monday 19 February.
School Streets is a pioneering approach to improving the environment outside schools whereby traffic is restricted at the start and the end of the school day – preventing the build-up of congestion and improving road safety for pupils.
The scheme has already been tried at seven other primary schools in the East Riding since 2020. Four have been successfully adopted, some are still being trialled.
Parents, carers and families are being encouraged to either park away from the school or to walk, cycle or scoot there to reduce parking pressures, discourage unnecessary car journeys, and improve the environment outside the school gates.
The introduction of School Streets is aimed at encouraging a move towards using more sustainable and active modes of travel, making it easier and safer for families and pupils to walk, cycle or scoot to school, as well as creating a more pleasant area outside the entrance.
The roads directly outside or leading to the school will be covered by an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order, which will be enforced during drop-off and pick-up times in the mornings and afternoons.
Residents and businesses within the affected area have the opportunity to apply for an exemption permit, which will allow access to the School Streets zone during the restricted times, if required.
There is also a list of exempted vehicles which may enter the zone during the restriction.
Councillor Paul West, the council’s cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “This scheme has already made a big difference at other schools in the East Riding, where it has stopped traffic problems at school gates, made the air cleaner and improved the overall environment outside, and we hope this will be the same at Acre Heads Primary School.
“We want to thank families, the community and the school for their support of this really positive scheme.”
Acre Heads Primary School headteacher Graham Sitch said: “We are really excited to be involved with the School Streets initiative.
“We hope that by restricting traffic down Welbourn Walk and Langford Close for a short period every day, we can ensure a safer journey to and from school for our families.
“It should also create a healthier environment and encourage more children to walk, bike or scoot to school.
“We are looking forward to working with the community and making this scheme a huge success.”
A spokesperson for Humberside Police said: “This partnership project with East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Acre Heads Primary School, Humberside Police and the local community is one that will help to address safety concerns, create a calmer environment for the community where people can feel confident cycling and walking, and improve quality of life by reducing congestion around school gates.”
Parents and carers have already been informed of when the trial scheme starts, as well as residents and businesses located along the restricted roads of Welbourn Walk and Langford Walk.
