Netherthird Primary to start School Streets trial in October

A School Street involves a part time restriction on driving motor vehicles on roads around a school. During the restricted periods (weekdays at school opening and closing times), only permit holders, blue badge holders, school transport vehicles (including contracted taxis) and exempted vehicles can drive on these roads. When the trial begins at the newly built Netherthird Primary on 27 October, the roads around the school will be closed from 8.40am - 9.05am and 2.45pm - 3.15pm Monday to Friday during school term times.

Residents in the streets affected will be classified as permit holders and will be issued with two free permits per household for their vehicles so that they can access their property at any time of day.

For parents of children at Netherthird Primary who normally drive to school, the Council has agreed with the Community Council that the Community Centre car park can be used for Park and Stride.

During the trial, traffic patterns will be monitored and then in December, questionnaires will be posted to residents, circulated to all parents/carers through the school app, and promoted to the wider community via the community council, ward members and social media channels. The trial will last for a minimum of one term (until February holiday) and the results of the monitoring will be used to decide the future of the scheme.

The School Street schemes, which were initially trialled in Catrine and Galston last year, delivered a substantial reduction in traffic volumes around the schools, and respondents to a survey reported a feeling of increased safety and community wellbeing. The initiative has now been made permanent at Catrine Primary and was continued at St Sophia’s until the school closed for refurbishment this summer.

Councillor Neal Ingram, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Roads and Transportation, said: “We are very pleased to be rolling the School Streets initiative out to our third school in East Ayrshire due to the success of our first ever schemes in Catrine and Galston. Ultimately, we want to do all that we can to increase the safety of vulnerable road users, and in particular younger children, when they are travelling to and from school. School Streets are also a fantastic way of encouraging more active ways of travelling, such as walking, cycling or scooting, which make the school journey healthier as well as safer.” 

Further information on the trials can be found at www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/schoolstreets   

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