Pupils across Bath are set to benefit from safer, calmer journeys to and from school as two new School Streets are introduced by Bath & North East Somerset Council.
Children attending St Stephen’s Primary Church School and Widcombe Infants and Juniors’ School will be among the first to see the changes, which form part of the council’s wider programme to improve road safety and encourage active travel.
School Streets involve short, timed restrictions on vehicle access during drop-off and pick-up times. The aim is to reduce congestion, improve air quality and make it easier for families to walk, scoot or cycle to school. Essential vehicle access will still be permitted where needed.
Councillor Lucy Hodge, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Transport Delivery, said, “I’m delighted to see Bath’s first School Street launching outside St Stephen’s school in Lansdown during National Walk to School Week. It is an especially fitting moment, as we take an important step towards creating safer, calmer streets for children and families.
“By helping children learn about road safety, supporting more families to walk, scoot or cycle where they can, and encouraging more considerate driving, we can reduce the risk of collisions and help children arrive at school calmer, refreshed and ready to learn.”
The decision follows public consultations which showed strong support for the schemes, with many responses highlighting concerns around congestion and unsafe driving during peak school times.
The St Stephen’s School Street will launch on Monday 18 May. Vehicle access will be restricted along part of Beacon Road, between Richmond Place and Richmond Lane, from 8.15am to 9.00am and from 3.00pm to 3.45pm on school days.
The restrictions will be overseen by trained volunteer stewards, who will install temporary barriers during operating hours. From 1 May, eligible groups will be able to apply online for digital permits.
A second School Street at Widcombe Infants and Juniors’ School is set to follow later in the summer. This will cover the full length of Archway Street and Excelsior Street, operating from 8.20am to 9.00am and 2.50pm to 3.30pm on school days.
Residents and those with specific access needs will be able to apply for exemption permits once applications open.
The council has also confirmed that a School Street outside Newbridge Primary School will launch this summer, while a decision on a proposed scheme for St Philip’s Church of England Primary School in Odd Down is expected in June.
Traffic levels and travel behaviour will be closely monitored to ensure any unintended impacts, such as displaced traffic, can be addressed.
More information on School Streets and individual schemes is available via the council’s website.
