Roads outside schools in Cambridgeshire will be briefly closed at start and end of school day from September

Schools across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are joining the drive to encourage social distancing and reduce pollution at school gates.

They have signed up to the School Streets scheme, which from September will see roads outside schools closed briefly at the beginning and end of the school day.

The initiative will help families adhere to social distancing and encourage active travel, as well as reducing congestion outside schools and improving safety for children.

It was set up following the government’s announcement to give extra money to local authorities – including Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council - to encourage more cycling and walking.

It means the road outside a school will temporarily close to become a pedestrian and cycle/scooter zone during the school’s opening and closing times. Barriers or cones and signs will be put up across the road during school drop-off and pick-up times for the area around the school entrance.

This is likely to be around 50m either side of the entrance depending on the location and social distancing challenges of the site. Access will be maintained for emergency vehicles, while essential vehicles, residents and deliveries will be marshalled through the site.

The closure will be set up and taken down by a member of the school community each day, and will apply only while the signs and barriers are out, so will not affect weekends and school holidays.

This is being arranged by Cambridgeshire County Council using a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order, which will run from the start of term in September 2020 until the end of the summer term in July 2021.

Councillor Ian Bates, chairman of highways and transport committee, said: “By closing a section of road for a short period at the beginning and the end of the school day, we will enable people to better adhere to social distancing guidelines. These measures can also have other benefits, including encouraging active travel, improved air quality around schools and safer roads for our children.”