A trial scheme aimed at reducing traffic congestion, improving the outside environment and encouraging active travel, like walking and cycling, is due to launch at a Holderness school in February.
East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s sustainable transport team, in partnership with the school and supported by Humberside Police, will carry out a trial of an initiative called School Streets outside Burton Pidsea Primary School in Burton Pidsea, near Hedon, 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 encouraged to either park away from the school or to walk, cycle or scoot there to reduce parking and 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 Burton Pidsea Primary School.
“We want to thank families, the community and the school for their support of this really positive scheme.”
Burton Pidsea Primary school headteacher Angela Wright said: “As a school we are really excited to be taking part in the School Streets scheme.
“We hope that our children, parents and carers will benefit from a safer journey to and from school and encourage more children to walk, scoot or bike to school.”
A spokesperson for Humberside Police said: “This partnership project with East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Burton Pidsea Primary School, Humberside Police and the Burton Pidsea 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 section of Church Street.
The vehicle restriction will be in place from 8.30-9.15am and 3pm-4pm on school days.
Volunteers needed
The school is currently looking for volunteer marshals to help support the School Streets project.
Volunteers are crucial to the scheme. They will be on hand to help motorists and pedestrians to understand the new restrictions, and explain what’s going on in a friendly, polite and positive way.
The school needs volunteers to cover up to one hour each morning and up to one hour in the afternoon, during term time.
If you are over 18 years old, keen to make a difference within the local community and become a School Streets volunteer marshal, please contact the school.
Flexible volunteering across a team of people is encouraged, so please get in touch even if you can only volunteer for one or two hours per week.
