Nearly 50 schools across West Yorkshire to benefit from a cleaner, safer school run

Hundreds of children across the region are benefiting from a safer journey to school thanks to a partnership between parents, schools, local councils, and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Following a successful pilot in 2019, the Combined Authority has invested over £600,000 into the School Streets programme – which sees streets outside schools become safer and cleaner by reducing traffic and addressing dangerous parking.

Having already delivered 33 ‘School Streets', 15 more are now being planned across the region through funding from Active Travel England.

Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, spoke about the success of the programme at the School Streets North Conference in Bradford last week (Friday 15^th March).

She said: “We want to make the school run a highlight of every family’s day, not a chore to be dreaded.

“And we want roads around schools to be safe, without stressful traffic jams, without pollution and noise, and without tragic accidents.”

A wide variety of interventions can be part of a “School Street”, which are tailored to the needs of the specific location and community. These range from automated barriers, to dedicated parking away from the school entrance, to improved signage.

Any school in West Yorkshire can apply for support with setting up a School Street. After consultation with parents and local residents, a plan is developed, taking into account the specific needs of the local area. If after a trial period the School Street is unpopular with residents, it can be reversed or changed.

Research by the Combined Authority shows that journeys taken in cars make up approximately 24 per cent of West Yorkshire’s carbon emissions. This means that car journeys need to be reduced for the region to meet its goal of becoming net-zero carbon by 2038.

Initiatives such as School Streets, which help create practical and safe alternatives to driving, are one way the Combined Authority aims to achieve a reduction in car use, as well as encouraging more children to walk to school.