Cars banned from driving outside Leicester school to get children walking
It is being trialled at St John the Baptist CofE Primary School
Cars will be prohibited from entering roads near St John the Baptist CofE Primary School in Clarendon Park, Leicester, during peak school run times, as part of a new trial initiative.
Starting today (2nd June), the scheme will enforce traffic restrictions from 08:15 to 09:00 and 14:45 to 15:30, Monday to Friday.
The initiative, introduced by Leicester City Council, aims to enhance safety for children.
Sally Slade works for Active Travel Neighbourhoods within Leicester City Council. She told us: "Students were complaining about the noise and that their walk to school smelt like petrol.
"Adults were always winding their windows down and shouting at each other and we just decided we had to do something about it.
"Plenty of children already walk to school and this initiative has shown that even more families will make that decision," she said.
'Cleaner air'
Experts state the scheme would lead to cleaner air, reduced congestion, and an increase in healthier habits for families.
The Council has planned road closure points at the junction of The Avenue and Knighton Park Road, and at the junctions of East Avenue and Central Avenue with Clarendon Park Road.
Motor vehicles will be prohibited from accessing these routes, except those with special exemptions.
Could this happen elsewhere?
Sally told us: "We have always been clear it is an experiment and we will continue to monitor how children get to school and whether they are walking or cycling.
"If after 6 months it is not successful, we will remove it.
"The more we start rolling this out the better. This is the sixth school that is testing the initiative and we have plans for three more, for now," she said.