Three new schools join Birmingham's 'School Streets' initiative
Birmingham City Council is continuing to ensure safer and healthier streets for children walking, wheeling and cycling to school.
Three new additions to its ‘School Streets’ initiative has taken the overall number across the city to 21.
Cotteridge Primary School (Stirchley ward), The Oval School (Garretts Green ward) and Whitehouse Common Primary School (Sutton Trinity ward) are the latest schools to join the scheme.
The School Streets programme restricts the movement of motor vehicles on roads outside schools at the start and end of the day. The aim is to reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality and make it safer to walk, wheel and cycle to school.
Since the initial launch of the programme in Birmingham in 2019 more than 70% of people (consisting of residents, parents, and school staff) have shown support for the programme at their school. This feedback has also shown that the initiative reduces school-related congestion, helping to make roads feel safer and less polluted.
Birmingham City Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment and Transport, Councillor Majid Mahmood, welcomed the latest expansion of the programme, saying: “School Streets is a programme that has already been proven to make roads safer, less congested and less polluted, and we are pleased to add a further three schools to those who are benefitting from the scheme.
“Reducing the number of cars on our roads and encouraging people to use active travel and public transport is key to both the Birmingham Transport Plan and our Clean Air Strategy, and School Streets is key to ensuring we are on track to do just that. I wish the schools involved the best of luck as they launch the programme."
Ed Wicks, Project Coordinator of Living Streets, added: “We’re delighted to support the launch of these School Streets. Fewer cars outside school gates means children can walk to school safely and breathe cleaner air.
“We know that many of us are put off walking to school because of speeding vehicles and inconsiderate parking. By removing cars, we remove these barriers and support more families to choose cleaner and healthier ways to travel.”
The School Streets programme is funded through net surplus revenues from the Clear Air Zone, which must be spent on transport-related strategies and policies that help improve air quality.
School Streets is just one way that the Council is working to promote safer, greener and healthier travel, with the Modeshift STARS national award scheme available to all schools.
Notes to editor:
About School Streets
Birmingham City Council uses Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders to trial a time-limited street closure at the start and end of the school day. This can stay in place for a maximum of 18 months, during which time we will monitor and assess the effect of this change before deciding whether it should be made permanent. As part of this we are asking for .
Local residents are able to apply for a free permit which allows them to drive their vehicle in the area where this restriction is in place in order to access their property. There are some other exemptions for traffic that can access streets at these times, including blue badge holders and emergency services. Anyone else driving in the restricted zone at these times (without a valid permit or exemption) can be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice charge of £50.