A public consultation is now live as part of a new pilot school streets initiative in Edinburgh.
A total of 31 schools expressed an interest in taking part in the pilot, which is designed to improve the environment around schools and encourage safer and healthier ways for pupils to travel to and from school.
While Cramond Primary in the Almond Ward expressed an interest in taking part, no schools from Forth or Inverleith will be involved in the pilot.
The Local Transport Strategy 2014-19 contains a commitment to pilot school streets at up to five schools.
However, given the volume of interest from schools across the city, a list of ten pilot schemes covering 11 schools was drawn up and was agreed by councillors in October.
These locations have been experiencing on going road safety issues caused by too many drivers bringing their vehicles too close to the school gates.
The pilot schemes will prohibit traffic on streets outside or around school entrances at specific times of day.
The benefits of implementing school streets are:
• Increase in walking and cycling and active lifestyles for pupils and parents/carers
• Reduction in traffic speed, congestion and pollution around the school gates
• Responding to demand from parents and residents.
Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport Convener, said: “There’s a huge appetite out there for this initiative and our next task is to finalise the details of how the schemes might work. We’re looking for as much feedback as possible from people in each of the 11 school communities, including local residents.
“Please have your say in our online consultation or pop along to one of the many drop-in sessions we’ve got planned early in the New Year.”
An online consultation is now live and will run until Friday 27 February 2015.
A series of drop-in information events will also be held in each of the schools during January and February.
School Streets Drop-in Sessions Diary
January 2015
8th – Clermiston Primary School, 3-6pm
13th – Buckstone Primary School, 3-7pm
14th – Duddingston Primary School, 3-6pm
15th – Sciennes Primary School, 3.30-7pm
20th – Abbeyhill Primary School, 3-6pm
21st – Cramond Primary School, 3-6.30pm
27th – St Peter’s RC Primary School, 4-6.30pm
28th – Towerbank Primary School, 3-6pm.
February 2015
3rd – Bonaly Primary School, 4.30-7pm
4th – St John’s RC Primary School, 3-6pm
25th – Colinton Primary School, 3-6.30pm
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