A new plan aimed at making the school run safer across Swindon is set to go before councillors next week, following input from pupils, parents and teachers.
Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet will be asked on 4 March to approve a new Safer Routes to School Policy, designed to improve road safety around schools through a coordinated approach combining infrastructure changes, education, enforcement and ongoing monitoring.
If agreed, the policy would see enhancements to pedestrian crossings near schools, widened footways and cycle paths, new traffic-calming features and the introduction of 20mph zones where supported by data and community feedback.
Schools would also be set individual targets to increase the number of pupils walking, wheeling or cycling to school. The plan would identify locations for safety barriers and other traffic measures to improve key routes used by families each day.
The Council has said it will work closely with parking enforcement teams and individual schools to ensure existing and future parking restrictions are monitored and upheld.
Earlier this week, Councillor Chris Watts, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, visited Robert Le Kyng Primary School to discuss the proposals with pupils. The school took part in the consultation process, helping to identify areas where safety improvements are needed.
Cllr Watts said the aim is to take a broader view of the school run.
“Every child should feel safe on their way to and from school and we want to do more to make that happen. This proposal is based on feedback we have received, ensuring we are taking the action that children, parents and schools want to see,” he said.
“This is about more than just introducing more traffic measures. Work needs to be done to comprehensively improve routes, improve education on road safety and help families move away from a reliance on cars.
“While some journeys will require the use of the car, there are plenty of other ways to get to school including public transport, walking, wheeling or cycling and we want to encourage the use of these as much as possible.
“This proposal will help make the school run safer for thousands of parents across the Borough.”
Dave Barnett, a teacher at Robert Le Kyng Primary School, said traffic conditions around schools can be concerning.
“I couldn’t believe the level and speed of the traffic,” he said. “I also saw some of our parents and was slightly horrified. I couldn’t believe they weren’t using the crossing, but we’re all guilty of that.
“We’ve all got a part to play. We need to walk more if we can, cycle if we can. Use the crossings provided.
“It’s about helping the environment, getting the kids fitter, but we can definitely do more to make the area safer.
“The children can only do what their parents do, so it’s important to get the message across.”
If approved, the policy would form part of a longer-term strategy to reshape how families travel to school, with safety and active travel at its core.
