School Streets consultation begins this month ahead of proposal for summer trial

A consultation is taking place this month on proposals to hold a School Streets trial at eight schools in Stockport this summer.

School Streets aim to make the streets around schools safer and healthier for pupils and parents and encourage more walking, cycling or scooting to school and supports the aims of school travel plans to encourage and promote active, healthy, safe, and sustainable travel to school for pupils, staff, and visitors.

This would, subject to positive consultation results, be done by restricting access to some roads around a school to through traffic and parents/guardians parking to drop off/collect pupils.

Parents at the schools taking part will be receiving a letter from the school and residents around the school will receive a letter from the council.

The schools identified volunteered to participate in the trial schemes, which are being funded by Transport for Greater Manchester.

The council is holding a three-week consultation, ending on March 28, with parents and residents living close to the following schools: Adswood Primary, Bradshaw Hall Primary (Cheadle Hulme), Cheadle Primary, Our Lady’s Primary (Edgeley), St Matthew’s Primary (Edgeley), St John’s Primary (Heaton Mersey), St Joseph’s Primary (town centre) and St Mary’s Primary (Reddish Vale).

The proposals are that the entrance(s) to the school streets would be closed by volunteers/school staff who would use signs and barriers, and then marshal access to and from the street.

Arrangements would be made to allow limited access to the School Street using permits, for necessary visitors such as carers of residents on the street. Emergency vehicles will be allowed to access as required.

One of the aims of a School Street is to reduce the number of private car journeys to and from school and should lead to:

• Less road danger from traffic
• Less anti-social behaviour from inconsiderate parking and dangerous driving
• More walking, cycling, and scooting by children and parents
• Reduced congestion and pollution from vehicles waiting with their engines running

As part of the consultation drop-in events for parents and residents will take place on the following dates:

Adswood Primary: Wednesday 23rd March 2:30-6:30pm at Adswood Youth Peoples Centre (Neston Grove, Stockport SK3 8PH). Plans for the School Street will involve closing Neston Grove between 8.30am and 9am and 2.45pm to 3.25pm i.e. at the start and end of the school day only.

Bradshaw Hall Primary: Tuesday 22nd March, between 3.30 and 6.30pm at Bradshaw Hall Primary School, Vernon Place, Cheadle Hulme, SK8 6AN. Plans for the School Street will involve closing Vernon Close and Blossoms Hey between 8.30am and 9am and 2.45pm to 3.25pm.

St Joseph’s Primary: Thursday 17th March between 3.15pm and 7pm at St Joseph’s Primary School Hall, Etchells St, Stockport SK1 1EF. Plans for the School Street will involve closing Fletcher Street, Etchells Street and Tatton Street between 8.30am and 9am and 2.45pm to 3.25pm.

Cheadle Primary: Thursday 24th March from 2pm until 6.30 pm at Cheadle Library, Ashfield Road, Cheadle, SK8 1BB. Plans for the School Street will involve closing Ashfield Crescent between 8.30am and 9am and 2.45pm to 3.25pm.

Our Lady’s: Wednesday 16th March 3.30pm-7pm at Our Lady’s Primary School Hall, Old Chapel St, Edgeley, Stockport SK3 9HX. Plans for the School Street will involve closing Old Chapel Street (East of York St) between 8.30am and 9am and 2.45pm to 3.25pm.

St Matthew’s Primary: Tuesday 15th March 3.15pm until 4.30pm at St Matthews Primary School Hall, Bowdon St, Edgeley, Stockport SK3 9EA or Wednesday 16th March 3.30pm to 7pm at Our Lady’s Primary School Hall, Old Chapel St, Edgeley, Stockport SK3 9HX. Plans for the School Street will involve closing Bulkeley Street (school frontage only), Bowdon Street (west of York St), and Lucy Street between 8.30am and 9am and 2.45pm to 3.25pm.

St Mary’s: Monday 21st March 3.20pm until 6.30pm at St Mary’s Primary School Hall, Broomfield Drive, Stockport SK5 7DR. Plans for the School Street will involve closing Broomfield Drive, Broomfield Close and Broom Avenue between 8.30am and 9am and 2.45pm to 3.25pm.

St John’s Primary: Monday 21st March from 3pm until 6.30pm at St Johns Primary School hall, Poplar St, Heaton Mersey, Stockport SK4 3DG. Plans for the School Street will involve closing Poplar Street and Lyme Street between 8.30am and 9am and 2.45pm to 3.25pm.

Have your say on the consultation by visiting our Consultation Hub.

To contact the team email schoolstreets@stockport.gov.uk or call 0161 217 6043.