Residents, parents and carers of children at four city schools are being encouraged to have their say on proposed measures to reduce traffic outside schools, cutting air pollution and making it easier and safer to cycle or walk to school.

The proposed measures will see segments of roads closed off to vehicles at the beginning and end of the school day in the immediate area outside of Reigate Park Primary Academy, Bishop Lonsdale CE Primary School, St Alban's RC Academy and Hardwick Primary School.

Following Derby’s success in trialling similar School Safe Haven Zones in other areas of the city to reduce pollution from vehicles, 13 schools expressed an interest in being involved in the trial which will also monitor air quality nearby. Of these 13, four schools have been prioritised for new measures which will be funded by the fourth round of the Government’s Active Travel Fund. 

School Safe Haven Zones aim to promote cleaner air, reduce congestion and improve road safety. These improvements make the areas immediately outside schools safer and easier for parents, carers and pupils to use active travel methods, such as walking, cycling and riding scooters. Trial schemes were first launched in Derby in June 2021.

The proposed measures which residents are being asked to feedback on will be introduced on an experimental basis for a maximum of 18 months. During this time a formal consultation will open, allowing residents, parents and carers to share their thoughts. The feedback received will be assessed before a decision is made about making each of the trial School Safe Haven Zones permanent.

Councillor Carmel Swan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability said:

We’re keen to build on the success of Derby’s existing School Safe Haven Zones, taking what we have learnt and expanding the scheme into more areas of the city.

We’re on a mission to make active travel as accessible as possible within the city. We hope that by expanding School Safe Haven Zones, we can not only make school areas safer but also encourage more people to leave the car behind when doing the school run and walk or cycle instead. School safe Haven Zones support our ambition to become carbon neutral by 2035 and reduce the number of cars on the road.

The views and ideas of parents, carers and residents are crucial in helping us shape these proposals and make the areas around our schools as safe as possible. I encourage as many people as possible to get involved and have their say.

More detailed information about the proposals can be found on the Let’s Talk Derby website. The consultation to help shape the proposed measures is now open and will close on Sunday 8 October.