An update has been given on a safety scheme that will see cars banned outside eight Oldham primary schools.

The council has announced this week that the rollout of the School Streets initiative has been delayed.

As part of the initiative, roads surrounding eight primary schools in the borough are set to be closed to all traffic during pick-up and drop-off times.

Residents, emergency services, and blue badge holders will still be allowed access to the roads but households and businesses within the area will require a permit.

The schemes are being introduced around: St Edward’s and Hey with Zion in Lees, St Anne’s in Royton, Northmoor Academy in Coldhurst, Christ Church in Chadderton, Corpus Christi in Chadderton – where the measures will also assist with Stanley Road Primary – and St Luke’s in Chadderton.

In a letter sent to residents who live near St Luke’s CE Primary School the start date given for the scheme was Monday, February 20.

The letter which was shared on the Facebook page Oldham Neighbourhood Watch, reads: “Queens Road (between Buckley Street and Albion Street), Albion Street, and Halbury Gardens will be closed to motor vehicles between the hours of 8.15am and 9.15am and 2.45pm to 3.45 pm for six months from Monday, February 20.”

In light of the delay the local authority has reassured residents that the funding for the project is “secure” and the scheme will be delivered “over the next few months”.

The initiative is being funded by nearly £85,000 from Transport for Greater Manchester and the Department for Transport.

In a statement, a council spokesperson: “We have briefly delayed the launch of our School Streets initiative to ensure all the necessary measures are in place before the project goes live, including the installation of new road signage.

“We would like to reassure residents that the funding for this project is secure and we aim to deliver this over the next few months.”

The local authority has said the enforcement of the School Streets will be carried out by police visits with officers able to issue penalty charge notices.

An experimental traffic regulation order will also restrict vehicles from entering or exiting the School Streets at specified times.

Signage, one-way systems, parking restrictions, bollards, road humps, and changes to corners and gullies are set to be installed as part of the scheme.