Positives on day one of new travel plan for school
NEW travel arrangements for St Martin’s Primary School pupils were given a measured thumbs up at one of the ‘active travel hubs’ on its first day.
Just a handful of parents and carers used St Martin’s AC for parking. It has been introduced, alongside nine other sites, to promote active travel, take back the school playground and create a safer environment for children.
It also coincided with the colder, wetter season when the school field, which had been used after the pandemic, will more than likely become too muddy to use.
‘I think it’s a great idea,’ said Jenna Hinshaw, who had come to pick up her daughter.
‘It’s not particularly difficult and I understand the reasons behind it.’
She said that she had picked the football ground because it had a lot of parking spaces available – 40 – so she would be less worried about there not being anywhere to park when she got there.
However, she added that there were downsides.
‘It’s a bit narrow getting in and driving down I was a bit nervous about a car coming the opposite way,’ she said.
‘I’ve spoken to one of the active travel officers who was down here today too, so I might try one of the others, such as Bella Luce.’
Only one other family used the large car park and, although there are several more with a lot of spaces available, this site was one that had been selected by parents and carers as a preferred option, alongside Raymond Falla House, with 50, and Les Camp Methodist Church with 25.
The other sites are Sausmarez Manor, Grande Rue car park, Bella Luce, Les Douvres, Rue des Escaliers, the public car park by the parish hall and the disabled spaces at school.
Also known as satellite drop-off zones, the sites are being trialled for six weeks when feedback will be considered and, if necessary, improvements made.
