School Streets Motion - Exeter City Council Meeting, December 17th, 2024
Proposed by: Councillor Rees
Seconded by: Councillor Banyard
School Streets are car-free areas outside schools. Roads are closed to vehicles (or they have severely restricted access) for a short period at the start and end of the school day. School streets put children first. They provide space for children to talk, scoot, play or pause on the way to school. These schemes are overwhelmingly popular with parents, teachers and pupils.
The Labour Government has brought in stronger guidance for School Streets which will make them effective, as now they must be supported by enforcement and monitoring. The guidance gives the benefits of School Streets as follows:
“School Streets can improve the experiences and safety of schools’ pupils, staff, visitors, and neighbours at peak school arrival and departure times. Schemes can support the delivery of a range of benefits at the individual, school, neighbourhood and broader local authority level, including:
· removal of congestion and reduction in emissions outside schools;
· reduced instances of dangerous driving, parking and turning outside schools at times of day when many children and families are present;
· fewer road safety issues and improved perceptions of road safety;
· increased levels of walking, wheeling and cycling to school;
· enhanced opportunities for social interaction;
· improved physical and mental health amongst pupils;
· increased pupil independence; and
· developing early active travel habits which can be carried into later life.
The Council notes that:
1. Many schools in Exeter have significant problems with cars and road safety issues at school run time.
2. Creating more School Streets will help to deliver on City Council policies of Net Zero, reduced air pollution and increased active travel.
3. The City and County Councils are both committed to increasing active travel. The Live and Move Everyday Active Strategy 2022 has a practical focus on active travel to and from schools in Exeter and Cranbrook.
4. The Devon & Torbay Draft Transport Plans includes School Streets as a new measure.
5. The Child Health Initiative underlines the impacts of transportation and urban planning policies on the health and basic rights of children. It highlights the serious and costly health impacts of unsafe roads and air pollution on young people.
The Council resolves to:
1. Call on Devon County Council to work with schools and communities to increase the number of School Streets in Exeter, where schools are willing to explore this option.
2. To provide a progress report on this activity to the ECC Transport Member Working Group in six months’ time.
Live-and-Move-Everyday-Active-Strategy-2022.pdf (liveandmove.co.uk)
https://www.childhealthinitiative.org/
Minutes:
“School Streets are car-free areas outside schools. Roads are closed to vehicles (or they have severely restricted access) for a short period at the start and end of the school day. School streets put children first. They provide space for children to talk, scoot, play or pause on the way to school. These schemes are overwhelmingly popular with parents, teachers and pupils.
The Labour Government has brought in stronger guidance for School Streets which will make them effective, as now they must be supported by enforcement and monitoring. The guidance gives the benefits of School Streets as follows:
“School Streets can improve the experiences and safety of schools’ pupils, staff, visitors, and neighbours at peak school arrival and departure times. Schemes can support the delivery of a range of benefits at the individual, school, neighbourhood and broader local authority level, including:
? removal of congestion and reduction in emissions outside schools
? reduced instances of dangerous driving, parking and turning outside schools at times of day when many children and families are present
? fewer road safety issues and improved perceptions of road safety
? increased levels of walking, wheeling and cycling to school
? enhanced opportunities for social interaction
? improved physical and mental health amongst pupils
? increased pupil independence
? developing early active travel habits which can be carried into later life.”
The Council notes that:
1. Many schools in Exeter have significant problems with cars and road safety issues at school run time.
2. Creating more School Streets will help to deliver on City Council policies of Net Zero, reduced air pollution and increased active travel.
3. The City and County Councils are both committed to increasing active travel. The Live and Move Everyday Active Strategy 2022 has a practical focus on active travel to and from schools in Exeter and Cranbrook.
4. The Devon & Torbay Draft Transport Plans includes School Streets as a new measure.
5. The Child Health Initiative underlines the impacts of transportation and urban planning policies on the health and basic rights of children. It highlights the serious and costly health impacts of unsafe roads and air pollution on young people.
The Council resolves to:
1. Call on Devon County Council to work with schools and communities to increase the number of School Streets in Exeter, where schools are willing to explore this option.
2. Provide a progress report on this activity to the ECC Transport Member Working Group in six months’ time.”
In presenting the motion Councillor Rees made the following points:
· Cleaner, safer streets for all and reduced air pollution was wanted by all;
· The motion focusses on children and families but does not ignore other vulnerable groups;
· Having been a Headteacher she was aware that working in isolation would not work;
· Transport was a county responsibility but the Council had a voice regarding active travel, net zero and clean air; and
· Government new School Streets could help achieve the Council’s targets.
Councillor Banyard as seconder reserved his right to speak.
Councillor Parkhouse proposed an amendment to the motion in the following terms, which Councillor Rees accepted:
“1. Call on Devon County Council to work with schools and communities to increase the number of School Streets in Exeter, where schools are willing to explore this option and to ensure full consultation with residents.”
Councillor Holland spoke against the motion making the following points:
· school staff rely on cars and there would not be enough parking for them;
· school streets would cause gridlock and the city would shut down; and
· carers would have nowhere to park; and
· in order to support he would need to feel sure that all residents were consulted.
Councillor Palmer spoke in support of the motion citing personal examples of involvement in another authority including impact of particulate matter on children’s lungs and the myth that being inside a car was any better.
Councillors Vizard, Harding and Read spoke in support of the motion.
Councillor Banyard as seconder spoke in support of the motion citing an example from within the city where a primary school Headteacher had successfully negotiated with a local church to facilitate parking and encouraged the school community to scoot and walk where possible.
Councillors Wetenhall, Atkinson and Pole spoke in support of the motion.
Councillor Sheridan spoke against the motion and stated concerns that this would be a re-introduction of the LTN by stealth, about the Equality Act and if there would be exemptions and how this would be enforced.
In summing up Councillor Rees stated that most shared the same vision but that concerns regarding exemptions could be found in the Guidance as these were already built into the scheme. School Streets would create a safe space and the guidance also laid out myth-busting information.
Following a vote the motion as amended was CARRIED.