A NEWTON Abbot primary school is starting the new academic year with the introduction of changes to the environment outside of their school gates.

From today (Wednesday), Bradley Barton Primary in Newton Abbot, Ladysmith Primary in Exeter and Whipton Barton Federation in Exeter, will adopt the ‘School Streets’ measures to restrict traffic outside the schools during drop-off and pick up times.

The schools have been taking part in a scheme trial over the past year. They found that restricting motor vehicle access outside the school entrance at the start and end of the school day reduced congestion and pollution. This, in turn, created a calmer, safer and more pleasant environment, allowing children to travel to and from school in more active ways.

Devon County Council is making the measures permanent following positive feedback to its consultation earlier this year on the School Streets closures.

The trial received strong support from parents, school staff and local residents, with the results of the consultation across the three schools showing that 86% of those who responded wanted the school streets to be made permanent.

Perceived benefits included a sense of greater personal safety, more room for social distancing and reduced congestion. Some parents said they now feel more confident in letting their children walk to school, and teachers noted that children settled in class more quickly, leading to a better learning environment.

Those who took part in the consultation also said that their travel habits changed after the introduction of the School Streets scheme, with a 20% reduction in car use for school journeys and an 18% rise in active travel.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said: ‘School Streets is a fairly straight forward way of encouraging people to walk and cycle, and these three pioneering schools have shown over the past year that it works.’

Councillor Phil Bullivant, County Councillor for Newton Abbot North, said: ‘Since the start of the scheme at Bradley Barton School I have had the opportunity, every Monday and Friday to close the road outside of the school. I therefore have been able to see how effective the scheme has been and am delighted that the benefits will now be maintained to protect the children coming to and leaving the school.’