School Streets pilots to begin outside two village schools near Goole next week

A new scheme aimed at reducing traffic congestion outside schools and encouraging active travel is to begin outside two village primary schools near Goole next week.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council, in partnership with Airmyn Park Primary School, Hook CE Primary School and Humberside Police, is carrying out a trial of an initiative called School Streets, starting on Monday 2 November, when pupils return after the half term holiday.

Under the new scheme, parents and carers are being actively encouraged to park away from the school at specially designated 'park and stride' sites and then, with their children, walk, cycle or scoot the rest of the way. These parking sites all fall within each school's five minute walking bubble.

Signed 'School Street Zones' have been created in the roads outside and leading up to both schools, meaning ­- from Monday - vehicles will not legally be able to enter, exit or travel along those roads between 8.15am-9.15am and 2.45pm-3.45pm on school days.

The zones cover the full lengths of both Percy Drive in Airmyn and Garth Lane in Hook. Only drivers with a residents' permit, a Blue Badge or those who are exempt will be able to use the road at those times.

Airmyn and Hook are the first schools in the East Riding to pilot the School Streets project, which is a pioneering scheme aimed to improve the environment outside schools.

Councillor Gary McMaster, the council's portfolio holder for enhancing communities said: "We'd really like to thank parents and carers in advance for coming on board with this scheme, and to the schools for working with us to introduce something brand new to the East Riding.

"Through School Streets, we want to help reduce traffic congestion, promote walking and cycling, improve the air quality and generally make the areas outside these schools much more pleasant for everyone at drop-off and collection times.

"Following these trials, we hope to be working with other schools elsewhere in the East Riding to roll out the project further."

School Streets is a national scheme which is already running successfully in other areas of the country.

It is hoped the initiative will help parents and pupils to socially distance during the coronavirus pandemic, by creating additional space for them to travel safely to and from school on foot, by scooter or bike.

Volunteer marshals will be on site near both schools from Monday to offer advice and guidance about the new scheme.

Residents living in Percy Drive in Airmyn and Garth Lane in Hook have already been informed about the project and have been able to apply for special free permits to allow them to use the roads at those times if they need to.

For more information on the scheme visit the website www.eastriding.gov.uk/schoolstreets