Benefits

We're committed to making Stockport’s roads safer for everyone living, working and visiting the borough. We're working to create a cleaner environment, reduce air pollution and improve the health and wellbeing of the community. We encourage more walking and cycling wherever possible.

Environment

This restriction is intended to create a street environment which encourages:

  • more cycling, scooting and walking
  • less motorised traffic
  • less cars around the entrances
  • improved safety
  • less engine-related pollutants, known to be damaging, particularly to children

Safety

Reducing the use of private car journeys to and from school should lead to:

  • less road danger from traffic
  • less anti-social behaviour from inconsiderate parking and dangerous driving
  • more walking and cycling by children and parents
  • less congestion and pollution from vehicles waiting with their engines running

A School Street supports the aims of school travel plans. These explore how pupils, staff and visitors travel to and from the school. They promote active, healthy, safe and sustainable travel to school as an alternative to short, single occupancy car journeys.

Health benefits

Exercise

Exercising vigorously at least once a day for children is key to a long-lasting good health, which could be easily achieved by having an active journey to school. Physical activity also leads to chemical changes in the brain that trigger a positive mood and a feel-good mind-set.

Air quality

Children’s lung development is particularly at risk from air pollution damage that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Pollution worsens asthma and increases the risk of developing allergies.

Pollution also impacts the brain by reducing attentiveness and memory. It has been linked to depression, anxiety, attention deficit disorder and raises the risk of heart disease later in life.

Road danger reduction

School run-related traffic accounts for a quarter of cars on the road at peak times. This results in increased risks of collisions with vulnerable road users and other motorists, unlawful parking, traffic jams and road rage.

Statistics from the Department of Transport reveal that 14% of children killed on Great Britain’s roads in 2018 were between the morning school run from 7am to 9am and 23% after school between 3pm to 5pm.

For more information and advice about setting up a school street you can: