A pilot scheme that could make travelling to school safer and easier for children in a busy part of Wrexham has been extended after some early signs of success.
Wrexham Council, in partnership with Letman Associates, has been trialling a ‘School Streets’ initiative at Victoria Community Primary School.
This was in response to numerous parking and traffic issues outside the school, class work with pupils, surveys with parents and guardians, and conversations with local residents.
The trial saw timed traffic restrictions introduced to limit the number of vehicles driving and parking near the school at the start of the day, and at home-time, as well as a one-way system on Poyser Street west (between Hampden Road and Victoria Road) 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with diversion signage in place.
After some encouraging early signs, the trial has now been extended and will continue through an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order, which will be policed and supported with signage.
The new legal order will also extend the one-way to include Hampden Road and Edward Street. The order will be in place for up to 18 months.
‘School Streets’ is a nationwide initiative aimed at improving safety outside schools by reducing traffic and dangerous or inconsiderate parking.
This is the first School Streets trial in Wrexham, and it’s being funded by the Welsh Government’s Safe Routes in Communities fund.
Active travel to school increased from 66% prior to the School Street trial to 75% during the traffic restrictions, according to data compiled through Living Streets’ Welsh Government funded WoW scheme.
Analysis of post-implementation engagement data shows that whilst 31% of respondents felt that they could walk safely in the area prior to the trial, this jumped to 73% during the trial.
17% of survey respondents noted that they could cycle safely beforehand, but once the trial was in place, this increased to 68%.
Councillor Terry Evans, Wrexham Council’s Lead Member with responsibility for road safety, said: “We’ve been trialling the new arrangements outside of Victoria Primary School, and early signs have been very positive.
“We’ve had children and their families saying they feel safer crossing the road, and teachers and staff also feel encouraged. As a result, we’ve decided to extend the trial to allow us to further analyse the impact.”
Councillor Phil, Wynn, Lead Member for Education added: “We want to make the school gates a safer and healthier place for children, and if the pilot is a success, it could pave the way for similar trials at other primary schools in Wrexham.
“Over the past couple of years, School Streets have been introduced in other parts of the UK with some success, and the initial trial period at Victoria has been very encouraging.”
