In June 2022, we worked with Hotspur Primary School to start the first School Street in the city, A month later, Grange First School in Gosforth joined the scheme. 18 months later, they're both a success story with safer, calmer, streets and more children walking, cycling and scooting to school.
Since the School Streets scheme started in 2022, families say the street feels much safer and calmer. Credit: Stephen Smith/Sustrans
Two successful schemes in Newcastle, which helped more pupils travel actively to school, have become permanent.
Our North team worked with Newcastle City Council and the local community to introduce the School Streets scheme at Hotspur Primary School in Heaton, and Grange First School in Gosforth, both in Newcastle.
They were part of an 18-month trial in June 2022, which included traffic restrictions to reduce traffic and make the area safer for children to walk, wheel, scoot or cycle to school.
As part of our School Streets programme, certain streets around schools close to traffic during school drop off and pick up times.
This reduces problems caused by parked cars and traffic, making it easier and safer for children to walk, cycle or scoot, and helps improve air quality.
As part of the trial there was a six-month consultation period so people could comment on how they felt the scheme was working.
The results showed the schemes were popular with families and nearby residents and the majority of people who responded said they would like the scheme to be made permanent.
As part of our School Streets programme, certain streets around schools close to traffic during school drop off and pick up times. Credit: Jonathan Bewley
More walking and cycling, less vehicles
Monitoring took place at both schools during the trials.
Traffic counts confirmed that there was an increase in the number of children walking and cycling to both schools during the period.
The monitoring showed there were fewer vehicles on the streets around Hotspur Primary school.
At both schools there were some extra vehicles travelling on neighbouring streets outside of the School Streets zone. But numbers were much lower than the overall reduction in traffic.
This suggests that many people have swapped their car journeys for walking, wheeling or cycling instead.
Our officers worked with the school community to help more families walk, cycle, and wheel their way to school. This included cycle lessons, celebration events, bike maintenance, and lots more.
Schools Streets Coordinator Ali Campion welcomed the news to make the School Street permanent. Ali said:
“It’s great news that Hotspur Primary and Grange First Schools are now permanent School Streets.
"The community are telling us they feel safer and calmer, and children start the day more ready to learn.
"It’s brilliant to see children travelling by bike, scooter or on foot and starting the day in a healthier way.”
Increased feelings of safety
Councillor Marion Williams, cabinet member for a connected, clean city at Newcastle City Council, said:
“School Streets schemes are designed to make the journey to school safer, healthier and more active, while also improving the area for nearby residents.
“At the times of day when the School Street restrictions are in place we’ve seen fewer vehicles outside the school gates and people have told us that it has felt much safer as a result.
“The reduction in traffic and parked cars has also been welcomed by local residents and, most importantly, more children have been able to enjoy walking and cycling to school.
“It’s great to see that since the scheme was introduced many people have swapped car journeys for other forms of transport – particularly cycling which saw a significant increase.
“This has been a successful and popular scheme that benefits local people and I’m very pleased that it will be made permanent.”
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