Published on Tuesday 25 April 2023
Oakdale Junior School in Poole has become the sixth school in Bournemouth and Poole to trial the School Streets initiative, where roads directly outside schools are closed to traffic at drop-off and pick-up times.
School Streets create safer and healthier environments for young people to walk, wheel and cycle to their school gates as well as reducing congestion and improving air quality.
Mrs E Bissell, Headteacher at Oakdale Junior School, said: "I’m thrilled that we are able to trial a School Street here. Congestion has long been an issue, and I hope this will encourage more children and their families to travel actively to school."
Richard Pincroft, Head of Transportation at BCP Council, said: "We have had fantastic feedback from the other schools running School Streets, so it’s great we have been able to extend this to Oakdale Junior School.
"This initiative has had a really positive impact in terms of how safe parents and children feel at drop-off and pick-up times. Not only are people encouraged to leave their cars at home and walk, cycle or wheel to school instead, but less traffic means improved air quality outside schools, helping us to work towards our climate and ecological emergency goals."
Other School Streets trials include:
- St Michael’s CE Primary School, Bournemouth
- Hamworthy Park Junior School, Poole
- St Clement’s & St John’s CE Infant School, Bournemouth
- Livingstone Road Infant School, Poole
- Pokesdown Community School, Bournemouth
The trial at Oakdale Junior School started on Monday 24 April and will run at least until the end of the summer term, during which a formal consultation process will take place. After this point a decision will be made to either finish the trial, extend it, or make the School Street permanent.
Those affected – particularly parents, carers, local businesses and residents – can have their say by clicking here.