Roads near Les Beaucamps and St Sampson’s High Schools were closed to through traffic at the start and end of the school day in September.
‘Our current School Street trial proved remarkably successful – serving to empower our students to be more independent, improve their physical and mental health, and reduce their carbon footprint,’ said St Sampson’s principal Vicky Godley.
‘I’m delighted this initiative has progressed to the next phase as we look to further encourage the use of active travel.’
By closing off the nearby streets, both schools, together with Traffic & Highway Services, hope to promote active travel amongst students, and to make the journey to and from school safer, calmer and greener.
The official trials will begin on Monday 1 December, and will involve La Vieille Rue near St Sampson’s being closed to traffic on weekdays from 8-8.30am and 2.45pm-3.30pm.
Ruette des Delisles, the lane which passes the Les Beaucamps playground but is one-way at the bottom of the road, will be closed to traffic from 8-8.30am and 3-3.30pm. During the year, Traffic & Highway Services will monitor their use.
Their findings will be shared with the Environment & Infrastructure Committee who will decide whether to make the trial permanent.
‘After a successful informal trial for each school, we’re pleased the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure has approved us moving onto an official trial phase,’ said Traffic & Highway Services road safety officer Paul James.
‘It brings us a step closer to implementing permanent School Streets for two of the island’s secondary schools and is another huge step forward in encouraging greater use of alternative transport on our roads.’
Traffic & Highway Services is also encouraging feedback from the school community – students, staff, parents and guardians – as well as from the residents and businesses nearby, in order to inform the final decision about whether the School Streets ought to be made a permanent institution. Les Beaucamps principal Martin Haimes said that School Streets helped to foster a greater sense of community at the school.
Cyclists, emergency vehicles, and vehicles accessing properties will still be able to use the restricted roads during the times that they are closed to other traffic.
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