WALKING to school could get easier for pupils attending lessons in Reading.
Later this week, Reading Borough Council’s Traffic Management Sub Committee will discuss plans to create a new School Street.
This would be for students attending the Civitas Academy, in Great Knollys Street.
If approved, vehicles would be prevented from going along the street at drop-off and pick-up times, making it safer for the primary school-aged children.
It would be the fifth such scheme in the town, and is volunteer-run.
Civitas Academy, which takes pupils aged four to 11, carried out an informal consultation with neighbours and parents last autumn, submitting an application to the Council in January.
The closure would be on Great Knollys Street immediately to the east of its junction with Bedford Road to an existing traffic restriction outside the Reading Buses depot.
Residents who live within this area will still have full access during the school street closure including for visitors and deliveries.
The proposed times of closure would be from 8.30-9am and 2.55-3.40pm, weekdays, during term time.
Council officers have assessed the proposals and are recommending the scheme is approved under an Experimental Traffic Order when the committee meets on Wednesday, March 6.
If approved, a statutory consultation will run for six months from the start of the scheme, after which a further assessment will be made on whether to make the scheme permanent.
It is hoped the scheme will encourage more pupils to use sustainable forms of transport, and is part of a campaign to improve air quality in parts of the town.
Salima Ducker, executive headteacher at Civitas Academy, said: “We opened in 2015 and we moved into our wonderful school in November 2016. As our academy has grown, so has the number of vehicles on the school run creating an increase in traffic.
“We feel the School Street scheme will have benefits for our school community and residents by reducing traffic congestion and improving local air quality, as well as making it safer and easier for children, families, and staff to walk, cycle or scoot to school.”
Cllr John Ennis, lead councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport, is keen to see the scheme expand.
“School Streets create a safer, healthier and more pleasant environment for pupils, parents and staff as well as neighbours living near the school,” he said.
“Civitas Academy has demonstrated there is widespread support for the scheme from residents as well as among parents and the school’ staff, leaders and governors.
“We have seen the success of School Streets in other locations around the borough and I am keen to see more introduced where possible in line with the Council’s aims to reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality and encourage more cycling and walking.”
The other School Streets are around Maiden Erlegh School in Reading, UTC Reading, Alfred Sutton Primary, Park Lane Junior, Wilson Primary and Thameside Primary schools.
The Traffic Management Sub-Committee report is at: https://democracy.reading.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=170&MId=5238
