Castlefields Primary School to take part in trial

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Wednesday, 19 October 2022 18:07

A school in Bridgnorth will take part in Shropshire Council's School Streets scheme trial.

Shropshire Council’s Cabinet has today approved an 18-month ‘School Streets’ scheme trial – and agreed that ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras be used to enforce restrictions.

School Streets are streets outside of school gates that are pedestrianised (except for permit holders) during school drop off and pick up times.

Under the new ‘moving traffic offences’ legislation Shropshire Council can apply for powers to enforce school streets using ANPR cameras.

Six schools will take part in the trial, namely:

Gobowen Primary School
Market Drayton Junior School
Woodside Primary School, Oswestry
Mereside Primary School, Shrewsbury
Whitchurch Junior School
Castlefields Primary School, Bridgnorth

A six-week consultation will be carried out with residents living near each of the six schools, as part of the approval process for obtaining ‘moving traffic offences’ powers.

Kirstie Hurst-Knight, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for children and education, said: “School Streets have been rolled out across the UK for several years. We already have one at Coleham Primary in Shrewsbury – implemented using coronavirus powers – and I now look forward to adding more to the list, using this new legislation.”

The results of the 18-month trial will then be presented to Cabinet with the intention of rolling out the scheme further if successful.

Where traffic is restricted on roads outside schools at pick-up and drop-off times during term-times, school streets make it safer and easier for children to walk, scoot and cycle to school. This reduces children’s exposure to air pollution on part of their journey to school and from cars with idling engines outside the school gates.