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28
Jan
School-run traffic ban to become permanent on Harrogate street
A pilot scheme that saw cars banned from a street near a Harrogate junior school is to become permanent, North Yorkshire Council has decided.
Since September 2023, Beechwood Grove, a cul-de-sac just across Hookstone Road from Oatlands Junior School, has been part of School Streets, which is a national scheme promoted by the Department of Transport to restrict traffic movement on streets near schools at drop-off and pick-up times.
For the last 17 months, school-run traffic has been banned from Beechwood Grove from 8.30am to 9am and from 3pm to 3.45pm, Monday to Friday during school term-time, effectively creating a pedestrian and cycle zone.
According to a report prepared for Barrie Mason, the Assistant Director – Highways and Infrastructure, the measure resulted in a 25% drop in traffic on the street.
The School Streets pilot was introduced after an Oatlands pupil was injured when a driver lost control of their car, which mounted the pavement outside the school gates.
At a meeting of North Yorkshire Council’s Environment Executive on Friday, the decision was taken to make the traffic restrictions permanent.
Hazel Peacock, of Oatlands & Pannal Ash Road Safety & Active Travel Campaign, told the Stray Ferret:
We are delighted the School Street is to be made permanent following an 18-month pilot.
We would like to thank North Yorkshire for trialling this scheme – the first of its kind in the county.
Its success and the positive impact it has made have been the result of a collaboration between North Yorkshire Council, Oatlands Junior School, local residents, parent volunteers and the support of Councillor [John] Mann [who represents the Oatlands and Pannal division on North Yorkshire Council].
The scheme has had a transformative impact to the immediate area around the school for road safety and has created an environment in which pupils and families can actively travel to and from school, by walking, cycling and scooting.
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