Seven primary schools in Stockport start trialling School Streets schemes to encourage walking and cycling

School Streets schemes designed to encourage young people to walk, cycle or scoot to and from lessons are being tried out in Greater Manchester.

Seven Stockport primary schools are trialling the active travel idea which involves access to some roads near them being restricted to vehicles.

The idea is being supported by Stockport Council and funded by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).

The schools taking part say they have problems with parked cars and also want to create a cleaner and greener environment for pupils.

Which schools are trying out School Streets and when is the trial on?

The seven primary schools participating in the trial are Adswood Primary, Bradshaw Hall Primary, Cheadle Primary, Our Lady’s Primary in Edgeley, St Joseph’s Primary, St Mary’s Primary in Reddish and St Matthew’s Primary in Edgeley.

The trial got under way on Monday (13 June), although some schools only started on Tuesday (14 June) and the scheme does not begin at Bradshaw Hall Primary until 27 June.

The trial is taking place thanks to an Experimental Traffic Order which covers certain roads around the schools and lasts for the period of the trial until it finishes at the end of July 2022, to coincide with the start of the school summer holidays.

The exact lists of road closures and when they are shut to through traffic and cars taking children to school is listed on the Stockport Council website here.

Although the times vary from school to school, generally roads are shut for up to half an hour or 45 minutes twice a day, first in the morning while pupils arrive and then in mid-afternoon while they go home again.

TfGM recently funded a number of School Streets in Wigan and said it is looking to roll out more across the city-region in 2022-23.

How do School Streets work?

School Streets work by preventing people in motor vehicles accessing roads near a school at the beginning and end of the school day.

This applies both to through traffic and to people looking to drop off or pick up their children in cars.

The aim is to encourage people to walk, cycle or scoot either the entire way to school and back or to leave cars somewhere further away and use active travel for the final part of the journey.

The schools are taking part because they have identified problems caused by parked cars in the nearby area and because they want to improve air quality, encourage pupils to use healthier and more sustainable modes of transport and boost social interaction.

The School Streets will be blocked off by Road Closed signs and cones at the agreed times and volunteer marshals in high-visibility clothing will be put in place to turn traffic away.

Residents and essential visitors, such as care workers, can still use the roads but will need to show a permit provided by Stockport Council or, where applicable, their NHS staff pass.

Blue Badge holders will be given access to get into school and emergency vehicles will get automatic access to the School Streets.

What has been said about the School Streets trial?

Coun Grace Baynham, cabinet member for highways, parks and leisure services at Stockport Council, said: “The safety of children travelling to and from school is of paramount importance.

“We believe this project is one that will help to address safety concerns outside the schools taking part and create a calmer environment where people can feel confident cycling, scooting or walking, and improve air quality by reducing congestion around school gates.

“Many families in Stockport have already made changes to the way they travel, including on the journey to school, and this project will enable even more people to adopt healthier and more active ways of travelling.”

TfGM has been approached for comment on the Stockport schemes.