Oldham school to ban parent car drop offs and pick ups near site

Oldham Council has confirmed it will start piloting its first ‘School Street’ at St Anne’s Primary School, Royton from June 5.

Those who wish to discuss the changes have been invited to attend a drop-in or online event hosted by the local authority.

School Streets, which have been implemented in areas across the country, enable children and their parents to walk or cycle to and from school, with the goal of reducing air pollution, congestion, and problem parking.

The scheme works by closing certain roads to motor vehicles around the schools at school pickup and drop-off times.

The roads remain open to those who are walking or cycling as well as residents and businesses with permits.

Restrictions won’t apply to emergency vehicles, blue badge holders or essential deliveries.

A map of the scheme (Image: Oldham Council)

Those dropping off or picking up pupils will not be able to drive into the affected streets, but can still park further away from school and walk the last part of the journey.

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A ‘hands up’ survey held in the school found on average 125 cars are being driven to the school twice a day, even though most pupils live within 0.68 miles. 

Headteacher praises plans

Sue Holt, headteacher at St Anne’s, said: “We are looking forward to working with Oldham Council to improve safety around our school.

“The roads around our school get very busy and this congestion puts our children and families at risk.

"We hope this scheme will help to eliminate dangerous parking and encourage more families to walk to school.”

How it will work

The scheme will affect Ormerod Avenue outside the school, with a drop-down ‘coffin’ bollard at the south end enforcing the zone, which will be erected during the period of operation.

The restrictions will operate during school term times from Monday to Friday, 8.15am to 9am, and 2.45pm to 3.35pm.

Additionally, a new one-way system, which will run 24/7, is being put in on the roads near to the school.

Traffic travelling on part of St Anne’s Avenue and Mellalieu Street will be affected by the one-way rules.

Eight schools originally planned

The initial announcement by the council in February said eight primary schools would be included, with the schemes then set to launch from February 20.

However, the council then announced a ‘brief delay’ to the schemes without announcing a specific date it would return.

The council now says more schools will be added to the scheme in the future.

The initiative is being funded by nearly £85,000 from Transport for Greater Manchester and the Department for Transport – which will also cover the addition of future schools.

Council weighs in

Emma Barton, executive director for place and economic growth, said: “Problem parking and congestion is an issue at schools across the country, not just in Oldham.

“Idling vehicles also pollute the air that pupils breathe.

“We are introducing School Streets to help address these issues. We want to reduce parking issues and queuing traffic while at the same time helping to improve air quality and road safety.

“Schemes like School Streets encourage active travel – if we get our children into a routine of walking and cycling from a young age it will stay with them for years.”

The council, via the schools, is inviting parents, nearby residents and businesses to a drop-in event to find out more information.

An online session has also been arranged for those who cannot attend in person, with those interested asked to email active.travel@oldham.gov.uk for more information and the event link.

Letters have also been sent to properties on the affected roads.

Multiple schools in Manchester already have school streets, such as at Manley Park Primary School.

According to Transport for Greater Manchester, 84 per cent of school runs in Greater Manchester are under one mile – equivalent to a four-minute bike ride or a 15-minute walk.

An Experimental Traffic Regulation Order is in place for Oldham’s new school street and the council says there will be opportunities over the coming months for residents, businesses, parents and the schools to give their feedback on the schemes and how they are working.