Traffic restrictions are to be put in place outside eight primary schools as a safety scheme for pupils and those who drop them off rapidly expands.

Bolton council has agreed to expand its ‘School Street’ programme which restricts motor vehicle access during peak drop-off and pick-up periods during term time.

School Street restrictions are set to be introduced at eight primaries in Bolton | LDR

placeholder image — School Street restrictions are set to be introduced at eight primaries in Bolton | LDR

Following an initial successful scheme at St Bede’s CofE Primary School, the council secured a another £81,600 from Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) for eight more School Streets, bringing the total investment to £120,000.

The targeted schools have been consulted, with each scheme to be implemented under an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) before consideration for permanent adoption.

The Bolton schools in question, are:

The Gates, Bristle Hall Way, Westhoughton Pikes Lane Primary, Gibraltar Street Osmund & Andrew’s, Falkirk Drive, Breightmet Blackrod Church Primary, Manchester Road Sharples Primary, Ashworth Lane Kearsley West Primary, Primrose Street Peter’s Smithills Dean CE Primary, Limefield Road Gilnow Primary, Gilnow Gardens

All the schemes will operate under ETROs for six to nine months, allowing for monitoring and consultation before permanent implementation.

When the roads in question are closed off, exemptions are made so that residents and emergency services can enter the restricted area near the schools.

The council said each scheme will be supported by appropriate signs, physical barriers and trained marshals to ensure safe and effective operation.

A report to the council’s cabinet member for highways, who has approved the scheme, said; “Bolton Council, in partnership with TfGM, is progressing the delivery of a School Streets programme funded through the active travel capability fund.

“The initiative supports safer, healthier and more sustainable travel to school by restricting motor vehicle access during peak drop-off and pick-up times.

“The delivery agreement with TfGM sets out the council’s responsibilities for design, implementation, monitoring and behaviour change activities, alongside the funding arrangements and governance to ensure effective, timely delivery.”

The agreement sets a fixed completion date for the schemes of July 31, 2026.