[The launch of St Stephen’s ‘school street’]
A raft of new walking, wheeling and cycling improvements across our region are helping children enjoy safer, healthier journeys to school.
The council’s first-ever School Street launched this week outside St Stephen’s Primary School, giving pupils a calmer, more pleasant start and end to the school day. Timed vehicle restrictions outside school gates reduce congestion and improve safety, making it easier for families to walk, wheel or cycle.
Pupils in the south of Bath are already benefitting from a major new active travel route. The western section of Scholars’ Way, a 2.5km walking, wheeling and cycling link connecting education sites across the area, was completed earlier this month. The route improves access to four schools – creating a safer and more direct alternative to busy roads.
Work on the mile-long eastern section of Scholars’ Way, which will connect communities in Combe Down with the University of Bath via Rainbow Woods, is set to start this summer. The project includes resurfacing the path so it can be used all year round, further expanding safe routes for pupils and students travelling sustainably.
More School Streets are set to follow in the coming months, including Newbridge Primary School on June 8 and Widcombe Infants and Junior Schools on 22 June. Ahead of its launch, Newbridge Primary School recently hosted an assembly with the council’s Road Safety Team, helping pupils learn more about staying safe when walking, wheeling or cycling to school.
This builds on the council’s wider work with schools to promote active and safe travel. In the last year, 1,216 children across 43 schools have taken part in Bikeability training, 15 schools have worked towards Modeshift STARS accreditation – including national winners Chew Stoke Church School last year – and the council’s Road Safety Team has delivered sessions to more than 10,300 children across the district.
Councillor Lucy Hodge, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Transport Delivery, said: “Launching Bath & North East Somerset’s first School Street alongside the completion of the western section of Scholars’ Way – and the start of work on its eastern section shortly – is a real step forward for young people travelling to school and university.
“Together with our Bikeability training and road safety work in schools, these projects are helping children feel safer, travel more confidently and make active travel part of everyday life.”
St Stephen’s Deputy Headteacher, Louise Flynn, said: “We’re really pleased to see our School Street up and running. Anything that helps reduce traffic and makes the area around the school safer and more welcoming is hugely positive for our pupils and their families.”
For information:
The western section of Scholars’ Way received a £2 million contribution from the Clean Air Zone reserve, alongside investment through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) via the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.
