School Street trial starts at Netherthird Primary

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. At Netherthird, 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 only.

Residents in the streets affected are classified as permit holders and have been 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, meaning that parents and their children will be able to walk the short distance between the car park and the school. As well as walking, other methods of active travel that parents and children could use when travelling to and from school are scooting and cycling.

During the trial, traffic patterns will be monitored before questionnaires are posted in May 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 until the end of June 2023 and the results of the monitoring will be used to decide the future of the scheme.

The School Street schemes, which were initially trialled successfully in Catrine and Galston, 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 will be made permanent at St Sophia’s once the refurbishment of the school is complete.

Councillor Neal Ingram, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Roads and Transportation, said: “We are very pleased that this initiative is now being trialled at our third school in East Ayrshire. 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. We are working with our partners in Police Scotland and the local community to ensure the School Street initiative is successful. 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 trial can be found at www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/schoolstreets

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