Pupils and parents are already feeling the benefit of a ban on traffic near their school at peak times so that they can get there more safely.
Motorists cannot use Oakleigh Avenue and Ismay Road, and some surrounding roads, near St Alban’s Catholic Voluntary Academy, in Chaddesden, between 8.30am and 9am and from 2.45pm to 3.45pm during term time.
The scheme has been running for five days and barriers are currently manned by staff from Derby City Council, which has been trialling the ‘Safe Haven Zones’ at schools across the city.
Cameras will be introduced shortly and any vehicle that does not have an exemption and enters the area during the restriction periods will be fined.
The zones are put in place for around 18 months on a trial basis to try to relieve parking problems around schools and improve safety and air quality for pupils and parents. A decision is then made on whether the scheme will become permanent depending on its success and community feedback.
Headteacher Tim Brogan said that the scheme had been a year in the planning and although it was early days, he could already see the benefits.
He said: “A feasibility study was carried out looking at how this could be beneficial for the community and there was a consultation with parents and residents and there will be a further consultation with local councillors.
“Air quality will be monitored and there will be a comparison between this year and last year so as well as making the walk to school safer for our children, it also has benefits in terms of their health and around sustainability.
“We love it, there’s a feeling of safety around the school and we’ve noticed the difference when we see children walking to school. It’s much better and a much calmer start to the day. We are also developing an active travel plan to encourage more children to walk, cycle and scoot to school. That will be much easier to implement without traffic on roads that the children use.
“We are really grateful to the community for their support and to our parents and pupils who have responded so well. The local residents have been great too.”
The city council launched the ‘School Safe Haven’ scheme last year, with the aim of freeing up roads near schools at busy times to make them safer to use.
Residents and businesses who have a vehicle or vehicles registered to an address located within the School Safe Haven Zone can apply for an exemption. The exemption will give a legal right to drive the registered vehicle into the zone during the scheme’s operating times. Special exemptions will also be available for blue badge holders requiring access to the zone and carers for vulnerable residents living within the zone.
