Northumberland schools on board with green travel plans

Posted by Journal Extra on May 13, 10 10:39 AM in School news

A major green drive to tackle the traffic congestion and air pollution caused by the daily school run in Northumberland has resulted in every school in the county getting on board.

Thousands more youngsters are now improving their health and fitness by walking or cycling to and from lessons each day, instead of being driven to the school gates in their parents' cars.

Pupils from Stead Lane First School in Bedlington take part in a 'walking bus' to school in the summer of 2008

All 201 local education authority schools in Northumberland now have their own individual green travel plans - which means the county council has achieved its Government-set target of having them in place by March this year.

The next phase of the programme will see the schools get 'travel health checks', highlighting those which still have large numbers of children being driven from within walking distances and encouraging them to do better.

The health checks will also identify the total carbon dioxide emission and calories burnt owing to school travel for each school.

Three years of work by the council's highways and transport departments has meant many more pupils, from urban high schools to rural village primaries, are now involved in more sustainable travel.

Helped by government grants totalling ÃÂ£1.1m, schools have introduced initiatives such as walking buses and five minute walking zones, as well as promoting safe cycling, creating more bicycle sheds and improving lighting and CCTV.

Examples include:

Ashington's Alexandra First School achieved a 7% increase in the number of children walking to school between 2007 and 2008, thanks to the launch of a walking bus

St Joseph's Middle School in Hexham set up a five-minute walking zone in 2008, resulting in 93% of pupils using it and dramatically reducing congestion at the school gates.

A travel plan at the new Bede Academy in Blyth has resulted in cycle sheds full every day, meaning up to 200 children are cycling to school

Chantry and Newminster Middle Schools in Morpeth were the first to introduce a new form of cycle training, resulting in high numbers of pupils biking to lessons.

Sarah Brierley, travel plan coordinator for the council, said: "We have really enjoyed working with schools to produce their travel plans, and they all deserve praise for what has been achieved in a relatively short space of time."

The travel plan team is keen to hear any ideas which parents or community groups have on how to further reduce car use. They can contact Sarah Brierley at sarah.brierley@northumberland.gov.uk or on 01670 533966.

Pictured: Pupils from Stead Lane First School in Bedlington take part in a 'walking bus' to school in the summer of 2008

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