Call for ‘School Streets’ scheme to protect children

Councillors warn of high costs

Exeter City Council has been urged to protect children going to and from local schools by signing up to a ‘School Streets’ project.

The initiatives, which have been launched elsewhere in the country including Paignton, mean temporary restrictions on cars using streets outside schools at drop-off and pick-up times.

Members of the Exeter highways and traffic orders committee heard that traffic outside the infant and junior schools in Ladysmith Road had increased following the axing of the controversial Active Streets trial in the summer.

Under that scheme, traffic restrictions cut traffic through parts of Heavitree and Whipton, but objectors said the low traffic neighbourhood trial moved congestion and pollution elsewhere.

Focus groups are now being set up to work out a new strategy to manage the city’s traffic problems.

Cllr Su Aves (Lab, St Sidwells and St James) said: “Since the trial has ended I have received a number of emails from people telling me things have got much worse again around Ladysmith School.

“For some people it’s physical danger, for some it’s intimidating. For some it has gone back to what it was.”

Cllr Lynn Wetenhall (Green, Newtown and St Leonards) went on: “How can we solve the problem around schools? There is only one answer – School Streets – but it needs lots of money.

“School Streets is a thing out there that’s working – but Devon hasn’t even considered it yet.”