Council continues to improve road safety outside local schools

Twenty-three schools will benefit from Swindon Borough Council’s School Safe Environment Zone Scheme (SSEZ) this year.

Since launching in October 2020, 50 schools have already seen a range of behavioural change initiatives, engineering and enforcement measures introduced to improve road safety outside and on the approach to each school. These include school keep clear markings, single and double yellow lines, flashing amber school signs, and the introduction of three School Streets.

The Council will spend £177,000 to introduce similar measures to extra schools across Swindon including waiting restrictions, reduction in speed limits, cycling facilities, a footway extension and a further School Street.

A package of measures designed to encourage behavioural change in parents, pupils, staff, local residents and drivers, could include five-minute walk zones, Park ‘n’ Stride, anti-idling and air quality toolkits as well as pupil banner design competitions.

The design of each SSEZ is bespoke to the circumstances, characteristics and location of each school as well as the current behaviours of pupils and parents or carers.

As in previous years, an assessment was completed across all schools in Swindon to accurately determine the improvements needed and to prioritise the schools requiring the most support.

Assessment factors included whether the school was primary or secondary, the type and condition of its approach road and the availability of cycle routes and footpaths. Other factors included the number of pupils at the school, concerns raised by parents, residents, councillors and the schools themselves, as well as data in relation to road traffic collisions involving children on their way to or from school.

From this assessment, 23 schools were selected for inclusion in the fourth year of the programme (2023/24). Council officers have worked alongside school representatives and stakeholders, while engaging with local communities to identify appropriate measures for each school depending on their specific needs.

The following schools will see the road safety measures introduced over the next couple of months:

• Chiseldon Primary School
• Oakhurst Community Primary School
• Catherine Wayte Primary School
• The Dorcan Academy
• The Ridgeway School
• Wroughton Junior School
• Oliver Tomkins Infants & Juniors
• St. Joseph's Catholic College
• Badbury Park Primary School
• Eldene Primary School
• Peatmoor Community Primary
• Wroughton Infants School
• Lethbridge Primary School
• Grange Junior School
• Brook Field Primary School
• St Francis Primary School
• Drove Primary School
• Wanborough Primary School
• Bishopstone Primary School
• Grange Infants School
• Swindon Academy
• Moredon Primary School

Councillor Chris Watts, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and the Environment, said: “Keeping children safe on their journeys to and from school is a priority for the Council.

“We have a lot of busy roads close to many of our schools and the School Safe Environment Programme has an important part to play in improving road safety.

“I hope that these new measures and behaviour change initiatives will see a reduction in injuries and make children and parents feel safer on the school run.”

For further information please visit the School Safe Environment Pages on the Council’s website.