School streets car ban to be extended

Road safety scheme set for three more schools

A trial car ban around some schools in Edinburgh is to be extended. Three new schools will take part in the scheme that prohibits traffic on surrounding roads at the start and end of the school day.

Councillors will consider a report recommending the roll-out at Tuesday’s Transport and Environment Committee and the second phase of Edinburgh’s School Streets initiative will be launched at Clermiston, St Peter’s RC and Towerbank Primary Schools in March.

School Streets was first implemented at six schools in September last year, aiming to  create a safer, more pleasant environment and to promote travel to school by walking and cycling, in turn reducing congestion and pollution.

Transport Convener, Councillor Lesley Hinds, said: “School Streets is all about promoting a safer, more relaxed atmosphere around our schools, with the aim of encouraging active and sustainable travel amongst children.

“We are already beginning to see the positive impact of the first phase of the scheme, and I look forward to seeing the effect on these three schools.”

School Streets was launched in September and October 2015 at six primary schools – Abbeyhill, Colinton, Cramond, Duddingston, St John’s RC and Sciennes.  Initial feedback has shown that compliance levels for scheme have been high.

Plans for the School Streets pilot, which is a commitment of theLocal Transport Strategy 2014-19 , were first approved by the Transport and Environment Committee in August 2015.

More than 30 schools across the city originally expressed an interest in participating in the pilot. The chosen locations had been experiencing road safety issues due to the number of drivers bringing cars too close to school gates.

Councillors will consider the latest report, School Streets Phase 2 – Consultation on Experimental Traffic Regulation Order at Transport and Environment Committee on Tuesday.