A road outside a busy junior school in Harrogate will be closed to traffic at peak times from September.

Beechwood Grove is set to be part of a School Streets pilot project, preventing parents from using it to access Oatlands Junior School at the beginning and end of the school day.

The measures will see school traffic banned from the road between 8.30am and 9am, and from 3pm to 3.45pm, on weekdays during term time.

Residents, school staff, blue badge holders, official school transport and emergency services will be exempt from the closure.

Meanwhile, parents are being encouraged to bring their children to school on foot, or by bicycle or scooter. Those who need to drive are asked to use the ‘park and stride’ scheme, parking at Hornbeam Park railway station, M&S Simply Food on Leeds Road, or St Mark’s Church, and walking the rest of the way.

North Yorkshire Council said it is proceeding with the experimental traffic regulation order for a period of up to 18 months after receiving an “overall positive response” to an informal consultation it ran in May and June.

In a letter to parents, senior traffic management officer Andrew Clare said the proposal would be formally advertised now, before coming into effect on Wednesday, September 6 – the first day of the new term at Oatlands, which has capacity for 360 pupils.

He added:

“We are seeking volunteers to help steward the scheme at school start and finish times.

“Volunteers are crucial to the schemes (sic) success to manage the traffic management, inform motorists of the restrictions, offering information and guidance, for example, highlighting the location of the park and stride locations.”

Earlier this year, a pupil at Oatlands Junior School was injured when a car mounted a pavement outside the school gates.

A more serious collision on Yew Tree Lane in February left two 15-year-old Rossett schoolboys with serious injuries requiring extensive hospital treatment.

As a result, a campaign to introduce 20mph limits and other restrictions on roads around Oatlands, Pannal Ash and Rossett gathered momentum.

A road safety meeting between headteachers, councillors and campaigners

Headteachers of all the local primary and secondary schools met several times, along with councillors, highways officers and parents, to discuss road safety.

A petition of more than 1,000 signatures was presented to North Yorkshire Council and the proposal was debated by both the Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee, and the council’s executive.

Cllr Keane Duncan, who is responsible for highways across the county, has said a review is now being completed to decide what measures are needed to make journeys to school safer.

Hazel Peacock, one of the parents behind the campaign, said news of the School Streets scheme on Beechwood Grove was welcome. She added:

“Together the school, campaigners and other stakeholders including councillors John Mann and Pat Marsh have been working with NYC to create a safer environment at school start and finish times.

“We are delighted the School Street pilot will begin in September at the start of the new school term and hope it will deliver positive benefits such as safer, cleaner environments around the school and can encourage more active travel.”

Read more:

• Headteachers unite to support 20mph speed limit near Harrogate schools
• Council’s 20mph review ‘kicking can down the road’

Schools are being urged to follow the example of a Knaresborough secondary school by setting up park and stride schemes.

Park and stride schemes incentivise parents to park in designated areas away from the school gates, with students walking the rest of the way.

They aim to improve road safety, reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality near school entrances.

King James’s School in Knaresborough introduced a park and stride scheme in 2019. Harrogate Borough Council issues permits to those taking part, enabling them to park for free in York Place car park at certain times.

Carl Sugden, headteacher at King James’s School, said:

“It helps further reduce congestion around our school grounds during drop-off and collection times and, as a result of the park and stride scheme, more pupils have the valuable opportunity to safely walk their last five minutes to school in the fresh air, promoting alertness in support of their learning and a healthy routine.”

North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council collaborate on park and stride schemes.

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North Yorkshire County Councillor Don Mackenzie, executive member for access, said:

“There are many advantages to park and stride schemes like this one at King James’s School. Keeping motor vehicles well clear of school entrances keeps pupils safe, provides a bit of useful exercise, and improves air quality.

“Our road safety and active travel team would be happy to talk to any schools keen to investigate the possibility of introducing a park and stride scheme.”

Councillor Phil Ireland, cabinet member for carbon reduction and sustainability at Harrogate Borough Council, said:

“I hope lots of people take full advantage of this incentive and support our efforts in making the district greener for future generations.”

Any schools interested in learning more about park and stride schemes can contact North Yorkshire County Council via the Open North Yorkshire website, opennorthyorkshire.co.uk, or email opennorthyorkshire@northyorks.gov.uk