A Paralympian, Strictly Come Dancing star got involved at a primary school drop-off this week to mark Greater Manchester reaching a 50 School Streets milestone.
More children across Greater Manchester are enjoying safer and greener trips to school thanks to the rollout out of ‘School Streets’ across every borough in the city region.
Peel Hall Primary School in Little Hulton had some special guests on their morning school run earlier this week.
Coinciding with International Walk to School month this October, a contestant from this year’s season of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, Dame Sarah Storey joined Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett, teachers and pupils at Peel Hall Primary School.
Over 50 schools and more than 20,000 pupils now benefit from a School Street- where traffic is restricted at drop-off and pick-up time.
Rather than being greeted with unsafe parking and congestion, families get to enjoy a safer, calmer welcome as they arrive. Due to the School Street it means children can walk, scoot and cycle much easier.
As part of Greater Manchester Mayor Bev Craig’s commitment to make our streets safer for youngsters, the city region is working towards a target of 100 School Streets by 2028.
Dame Sarah Storey is the Active Travel commissioner for Greater Manchester. She believes School Streets play a vital role within the Bee Network and enabling safter school journeys.
She said:” By creating calmer and less vehicle dominated space outside of a school, danger is reduced and children are less at risk of being exposed to polluted air.
“Research also shows that children who have an active start and end to their day are better able to learn at school and decompress when they get home, so the benefits are far reaching.
“What was particularly good to hear at Peel Hall was how everyone from pupils to parents as well as staff have noticed the difference and the benefits are already being seen in the classroom.”
Peel Hall Primary’s School Street has been up and running since February. Children, residents and families have said that it’s helped create a safer and calmer environment outside the school.
Since the ANPR camera-enforced scheme was introduced, the proportion of pupils walking to school jumped from 56% to 74%, while car use dropped from 33% to 7%.
Around a third of a peak-time traffic is linked to the school run, which can create congestion on the wider network, unsafe parking and a less pleasant environment around the school gates.
Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett believes that every child deserves a safe journey to school and that the first camera-enforced School Street will help reduce traffic and inconsiderate parking.
He said: “This is part of a wider programme of improvements across Salford that is making our neighbourhoods safer, healthier and better places to live.”
Peel Hall Green Primary School in Little Hulton has previously had problems with cars blocking the road, parking dangerously and altogether making school pick-up times stressful for families and residents.
Stephen Lawler-Smith, Headteacher of the Primary School, added, “It’s made a real difference.”
Farah Furnival, whose son, Adonis is in Year 3 at the school said: “If my son Adonis is walking and sees his friends at the gate I can let go of his hand and he can run to his friends and I feel really, really safe about that.”
