School Streets set for further expansion in Portsmouth

Two more sites are preparing to sign up to the city’s scheme from September, transforming journeys for pupils, parents and teachers.

King’s Academy College Park and King’s Academy North Parade have confirmed they will join Portsmouth’s School Streets scheme in the next academic year, which begins in September 2022. 

The initiative involves limiting motorised traffic from the road or roads around schools during term-time at drop-off and pick-up. Temporary barriers managed by trained stewards ensure only approved users can pass.

These include pedestrians, cyclists, essential vehicle drivers (for example, emergency services), official school transport, blue badge holders and other vehicles that have pre-arranged access with the school. Any residents who live on a restricted road are also approved. 

Working alongside Sustrans, the UK’s walking, cycling and sustainable transport charity, Portsmouth Council heads up the scheme but works to support each school in developing its own School Streets specific to geography and needs. The overall aim is to make areas around schools safer, less polluted, and more sociable environments. 

‘I’m incredibly pleased that a further two schools are joining School Streets following positive results from our initial schools. We have seen members of the community come together and take pride in encouraging one another to adapt their habits for the benefit of child safety, health and the environment,’ said Cllr Suzy Horton, Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education. ‘Starting your day with a light physical activity through School Streets encourages our children to engage in activity.

‘As air pollution is a significant issue for Portsmouth, this has also been affected by such a significant decrease in vehicle carbon emissions, so the scheme has been a twofold success,’ she continued. ‘The risk of road accidents has also decreased, allowing parents and guardians more peace of mind for safety on the school run. We look forward to welcoming two new schools to School Streets from September, and hopefully more soon.’

Last year, Noel Frost, head of global enforcement at Siemens Mobility Limited, wrote an opinion piece on why School Streets should be rolled out across the UK.  

Image credit: Léa Debroise