Second School Street to be made permanent

Newcastle City Council, working with Sustrans and the school, introduced the scheme at Grange First School, in Gosforth, as a trial in July 2022.

It means that traffic is restricted from travelling down Norham Avenue, outside the school gates, during times on a morning and afternoon when children are arriving at school or going home.

Residents on the street, along with blue badge holders, school staff, taxis and the emergency services are exempt from the restriction.

A six-month consultation took place during the trial and traffic monitoring in the local area around the school has been carried out.

The majority of the consultation feedback showed support for the scheme continuing, although some concerns were raised over issues of displaced parking onto other nearby streets.

Traffic monitoring showed that while there has been some increased parking on nearby streets, there had also been an increase in the number of pupils walking and cycling to school, instead of being driven in a car.

Cllr Marion Williams, cabinet member for a connected, clean city at Newcastle City Council, said: “The purpose of the School Street scheme is to enable more pupils to walk or wheel to school by creating a safer, less congested environment around the school gates.

“Since the introduction of the scheme at Grange First School, there has been an increase in more sustainable and active journeys, and those who already walked or cycled to school have said it is now much easier and more pleasant with fewer cars around.”

Sustrans officers worked with the school to encourage more families to walk, cycle, and wheel to school. Schools Streets Coordinator Ali Campion welcomed the news to make the School Street permanent. 

Ali said: “It’s great news that Grange First School is now a permanent School Street. A safer, calmer environment around school means children can start the day ready to learn, and get to school in healthier ways.”

School Streets works by closing certain streets around schools 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.

Trial schemes at both Grange First School, in Gosforth, and Hotspur Primary School, in Heaton, are both now permanent, with other similar trials also ongoing at Chillingham Road Primary School and Ravenswood Primary School.

Decisions regarding the other School Streets trials will be made following consideration of monitoring data and consultation feedback from those areas.