School streets: First look at scheme coming to Oldham soon

Funding has been granted for ‘school streets’ to be implemented in Oldham.

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

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.

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

ALSO READ: Major update given on Oldham School Streets scheme.

In Manchester, Manley Park Primary School in Whalley Range is one of seven primary schools to adopt a ‘School Street’.

Transport for Greater Manchester says the schemes enable pupils to make their way to and from school in a pleasant, safe environment that prioritises active travel over driving on the school run.

The scheme aims to prioritise active travel for pupils (Image: TfGM)

The Manley Park zone is implemented outside the primary school between Upper Chorlton Road and Park Drive five days a week during term time, before and after the school day between 8-9am and 2-3.30pm.

The trial initiative is a partnership between the school, Manchester City Council and Transport for Greater Manchester.

Active Travel Commissioner Dame Sarah Storey paid Manley Park Primary a visit to see its new ‘School Street’ in action on Friday, March 10.

Home-to-school travel is also one of the commissioner’s key priorities to ensure that educational establishments have the tools to support youngsters in participating in active travel, alongside a ‘Vision Zero’ strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries.

Dame Sarah Storey said: “I was really impressed with the positive action teachers, parents, and volunteers are taking to create a safe environment around Manley Park Primary School during drop-off and pick-up times.

“A School Street’s main function is to improve the safety of children as they head to and go home from school.

“With Vision Zero a key recommendation within my recent Refresh the Mission report, local interventions like this make a significant contribution to reducing road danger, as well as improving the air quality around the school gate.

“It’s clear that this School Street is benefitting school pupils and enabling them to enjoy a more active journey to and from school every day.”

Adults and children use the school street (Image: TfGM)

Across Greater Manchester, around 30 per cent of trips under one kilometre are made in a car, with 84 per cent of school runs being under one mile, the equivalent of a four-minute bike ride or a 15-minute walk.

The aim of the School Streets scheme is to help create a pleasant, child-friendly, safe environment, which prioritises active travel over driving, enabling children to breathe cleaner air on the school run.

Marshals put out signs, cones and barriers to highlight the scheme while residents and businesses on the street are still allowed to use the road if they drive at a walking pace and they show a valid permit.

Blue badge holders and emergency service vehicles can still maintain access to the street too.

Rob Jones, Deputy Head at Manley Park Primary School, said: “We are so proud to be the first Manchester school to launch our School Street.

“The project fully supports our school vision of developing pupils to be socially responsible citizens of our community and the world. 

“Before we started the trial, traffic on the road at pick up and drop off times was incredibly busy, causing high levels of stress and a potentially dangerous environment for all of those involved.  

“Now, the atmosphere at the beginning and end of the school day is a tranquil one, and many of our children have spoken about feeling safe as they make their way to and from school.

“I would like to say a huge thank you to all the volunteers and to TfGM for making this a reality for our school and the local community.”

Oldham school streets

These eight Oldham schools are set to take part in the scheme in the coming months.

• St Edwards, Lees

• Hey with Zion, Lees

• St Anne’s, Royton

• Northmoor Academy, Coldhurst

• Christ Church, Chadderton

• Corpus Christi, Chadderton

• Stanley Road, Chadderton

• St Luke’s, Chadderton