SIGNS are set to start appearing near schools in and around Oswestry as part of the School Streets pilot from this spring.

School Streets are streets outside school gates that have temporary restrictions on cars – except for permit holders – during school drop-off and pick-up times.

Ahead of the pilot starting in April, signs will be put in place close to each school to inform drivers of the new restrictions that will see the streets become pedestrianised during drop-off and pick-up times. 

They will only be accessible to blue badge holders, school buses and taxis, and for students with a specific need such as a temporary injury which means they need a vehicle to get close to their school

Signs have already been installed near a school in Bridgnorth before others including Oswestry go up during half-term next week.

Kirstie Hurst-Knight, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member for children and education, said: “It’s great news that we’re getting close to beginning our School Streets trial at six schools.

“As School Streets restrict traffic outside schools at pick-up and drop-off times, this work will help us make it safer and easier for children to walk, scoot and cycle to school – something that we all want.”

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The schools on the list including Gobowen Primary School, Woodside Primary School, Oswestry and Whitchurch Junior School.

Residents in each area eligible for a permit will receive a letter in the coming days.

Dan Morris, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member for highways, said: “Shropshire Council is on track to be the first rural council with a School Streets programme and the power to enforce moving traffic offences, which is great for the county and our school children.”

Under new ‘moving traffic offences’ legislation Shropshire Council will be able to enforce School Streets using ANPR cameras.

The pilot was originally planned to begin in February but will now start in April once the ANPR cameras used to enforce the scheme have been installed.

Helen Morgan, MP for North Shropshire, said:“Road safety is a key issue for people across North Shropshire, and in particular for families at the school gate.

"It is good to see progress on the School Streets scheme in Gobowen, Oswestry, Whitchurch and Market Drayton. This has been long-awaited by many parents and pupils.

“This news is very welcome but I would strongly urge Shropshire Council to implement slower speed limits and safer drop-off points at even more schools as soon as possible. Myddle Primary and Lower Heath Primary are just two examples that could benefit from a similar set of proposals, but were not eligible for this pot of funding.”

The new powers mean that – in the next phase of the project – ANPR cameras can also be used to enforce the School Street already in place at Coleham Primary in Shrewsbury.

For the first six months of the pilot a grace period will be in place for first-time offenders.

Following the pilot it’s hoped to roll School Streets out to other schools across the county.