Traffic will be banned outside five Aberdeenshire schools during peak times in a bid to get more children walking to lessons.
The School Streets scheme is aimed at encouraging families to leave the car at home and make it safer for children to walk or cycle.
It was introduced at South Park School in Fraserburgh last May as a pilot project, and has proven to be a success.
Under the trial, vehicles are banned from streets surrounding the school for an hour at the start and end of the school day.
Only vehicles with a valid permit or Blue Badge holders, emergency services, council vehicles, delivery vehicles, care workers and taxis are exempt.
Signs are in place on the impacted roads which flash to indicate when the closures are in operation.
It comes as the council prepares to axe its lollipop men and women in a cost-saving drive.
What Aberdeenshire schools will be included in the School Streets trial?
But now the scheme will be extended to five additional schools following the “encouraging” results seen in Fraserburgh.
School Streets will soon be introduced at the following locations:
- Buchanhaven School, Peterhead
- Auchterellon School, Ellon
- Kellands School, Inverurie
- Arduthie School, Stonehaven
- Gordon Primary, Huntly
However, some particular qualms were raised about the Stonehaven and Inverurie schools being included…
Did School Streets achieve results in Fraserburgh?
Since the measures were implemented last May, walking and cycling has increased to 67% at the Fraserburgh primary, while driving levels have dropped to just 4%.
Surveys on the scheme were carried out with residents and parents, which gathered 197 responses.
More than half (54%) of respondents were strongly in favour of School Streets, with a further 28% partially in favour.
The Fraserburgh trial is due to end in December, but could be extended.
Queries around Arduthie
The trial extension was considered by the infrastructure services committee on Thursday.
Councillor Catherine Victor asked for some clarity around Arduthie School.
She believed closing the busy Queen’s Road could cause some problems.
However, she was assured that the street would not be included in the current proposal.
Fears Inverurie problem would ‘just move itself’
Meanwhile, Inverurie councillor Marion Ewenson welcomed the addition of Kellands School.
But she wasn’t convinced this would be an immediate fix.
“It’s just neverending, the issues with folk parking there,” she stated.
The councillor also said she was worried the problem would “just move itself” as she believed cars would still travel to the school.
Officials suggested that schemes such as park and stride could be used if parents had further to travel.
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The committee went on to unanimously approve the trial extension.
It is believed the School Streets projects will be in place at the five additional schools within the next 10 months.
It comes as the council prepares to axe its lollipop men and women in a cost-saving drive:
Council leader says volunteers could take over from axed Aberdeenshire school crossing patrollers
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