More than 9,000 school children in the borough will enjoy healthier and safer school journeys as Redbridge’s School Streets programme is rolled out at a further four schools from September.
Gearies Primary School, Redbridge Primary School, St Augustine’s Catholic Primary School and Seven Kings School, Secondary Campus are the newest additions to the programme, increasing the total number of schools in the scheme to 15.
Under the initiative, which comes into effect from 4 September, motor vehicles will be unable to enter school street zones surrounding the schools, for around an hour, at the start and end of the school day during term time.
The vehicle restrictions help eliminate dangerous traffic hotspots near the schools, making children less vulnerable to road accidents by creating a safer journey to and from school.
The restrictions also help reduce children’s exposure to harmful vehicle emissions, and encourage more walking, scooting, and cycling to school.
Bob Drew, head teacher at Gearies Primary School, said: “The community at Gearies Primary is really looking forward to the start of the Redbridge School Streets project.
“This will help support our commitment to sustainable travel, improve children’s health and fitness, and ease the congestion around the school gates at the start and end of each day. Our children are supportive of the plan and have themselves been campaigning for years to encourage parents to stop using cars when coming to school.”
Jane Waters, executive headteacher of Seven Kings School, said: “We got involved with Redbridge School Streets because we were concerned about the safety of our young people, having witnessed some close calls, with cars mounting pavements when the road gets gridlocked.
“We fully support the initiative, and our children feel relieved they will be able to walk to and from school independently, in safety. We are all looking forward to a sense of calm and safety at the start and end of the school day for our young people, staff, and neighbours.”
23 August 2023