CONNECTING SOUTHAMPTON

As part of our Safer Routes to School Programme, we have delivered a zebra crossing and School Street at Hightown CE Primary School using our Active Travel Fund 4 (ATF4) allocation. Click here for more info.

Following successful initial trials of School Streets at 5 new sites, we have formalised the trial by moving these sites onto an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order. We are inviting residents to provide feedback on these schemes.

This ETRO consultation is now closed. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the consultation.

We are inviting residents to feedback on proposals which could see automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras used to reduce moving traffic contraventions at specific locations including selected School Streets.

The survey is now closed. Thank you to everyone who has provided feedback.

Following consultation, Cantell School has now been approved as the next location to take part in the School Street scheme. From 1 November, Violet Road (between Copperfield Road and Primrose Road) will be signposted as a bus gate restriction, in place from 8am to 9:30am, and 2:15 to 3:45pm. This will be supported by camera enforcement and fines will be issued for vehicles found to be using the road without proper permissions.

We recently carried out School Streets surveys to gather the views of pupils, adults and residents who attend, travel to or live by a school where a School Streets scheme is in place. As of 10 May, we have received 521 responses (124 pupils and 397 adults).

We have now analysed the results of the surveys and our main findings are below:

School Streets make the streets safer and more pleasant

• 85% of pupils said they feel safer or a lot safer on their school street when they walk/cycle/scoot
• 80% of adults agree or strongly agree that the street is safer
• 62% of adults agree or strongly agree that the street is now a more sociable space (13% disagree or strongly disagree)
• 50% of adults agree that the street is now a more inclusive place (12% disagree or strongly disagree)
• 46% of adults agree that the street is now a more attractive place (13% disagree or strongly disagree)

School Streets are having a wider impact

• 53% of adults agree or strongly agree that the air quality has improved (11% disagree or strongly disagree)
• 52% of adults agree or strongly agree the surrounding streets are the same or less congested with car traffic than before the school street (35% believe they are more congested)

School Streets are supporting more active travel

• 78% of pupils said it’s easier or a lot easier to walk/cycle/scoot to school
• 60% of parents agree or strongly agree it is now easier to walk/cycle/scoot to school and back (12% disagree or strongly disagree)
• 27% of parents walk more (3% walk less)
• 7% cycle more (4% cycle less)
• 14% scoot/skate more (4% scoot/skate less)
• 17% drive less (4% drive more)

There is strong overall support for School Streets

• 83% of pupils said they are quite happy or very happy with their school street
• 76% of adults would like the school street closures to continue (16% would not)
• 56% of residents of school streets support the closures (37% do not) and 51% want the closures to continue (40% do not)
• 72% of local residents or those who travel through the area support the closures (18% do not) and 66% want the closures to continue (25% do not)

Overall 82% of adults said they support the school street road closures (13% are against them).

What did people say?

Pupils

• “[I like most] that everyone is able [to] walk without worrying about cars”

Parents

• “It is so much safer for our children and the air quality is better. I am more relaxed waiting in the queue for school knowing there aren’t as many cars. Illegal parking down the road has massively reduced too. It should definitely continue.”

Residents

• “[…] this makes the travelling by foot to school a lot safe. No cars!! It’s brilliant. It also encourages kids to walk to school as parents cannot just pull in to drop the kids off.”

Following the launch of Shirley Junior School's 'School Streets' scheme in September, three more schools in Southampton will be commencing their own schemes in November. Shirley Infant School is the first of these and on Monday 2 November began its trial of the measures outside of the school on Wilton Road, between Winchester Road and Bellemoor Road.

Mansbridge Primary School and Freemantle C of E Community Academy are set to follow later this month, on Monday 16 November and 23 November respectively. Additional schemes are also in the pipeline for a further three schools, with implementation dates to be confirmed. The council is continuing to work closely with local schools to encourage active travel on the school run and continue expanding the city's School Streets programme.

Shirley Infant School's 'School Streets' scheme in action

Mansbridge Primary School's 'School Streets' scheme is now up and running

Shirley Junior School last week became the first school in Southampton to trial a School Streets scheme under the Green Transport Recovery Plan. The scheme is being trialled by the school in partnership with Southampton City Council and Sustrans to provide additional space for social distancing, encourage more families to travel actively to school and create a safer, healthier and more pleasant environment.

The first week of the closure went smoothly and the scheme has excellent support from staff and families, with some parents already now volunteering to help out with manning the closures. There has also been positive feedback from local residents as well as the school community.