Salford City Council is rolling out its “School Streets” scheme across the city in a bid to cut traffic, improve air quality and make journeys to school safer for children and families.
The initiative restricts vehicle access on roads directly outside school gates during busy drop-off and pick-up times, creating a calmer environment for pupils arriving and leaving each day. During the restricted periods, only residents and authorised vehicles are allowed through, with most traffic diverted away from the immediate school area.
The first scheme in Salford was introduced at Peel Hall Primary School on Greencourt Drive in Little Hulton earlier this year. Restrictions are in place on weekdays during term time between 8:15am and 9:00am, and again from 2:30pm to 3:45pm. The measures limit through traffic outside the school gates, aiming to reduce congestion and improve safety at the busiest times of day.
A second School Street is now set to be introduced at Grosvenor Road Primary School in Swinton from 20 April. The scheme will cover Parkgate Drive, Heathfield Drive and Collingwood Drive, with operating times from 8:00am to 9:30am and 2:30pm to 3:45pm.
Under the scheme, roads remain open to pedestrians, cyclists and mobility users, while parents who need to drive are encouraged to park further away and walk the final part of the journey. Residents living within the restricted zones, along with eligible users such as carers and blue badge holders, can apply for permits to allow access during restricted hours.
Permits can be applied for online via Salford City Council, with applicants required to provide proof of address or eligibility.
Full details, including how to apply, can be found here:
https://www.salford.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-travel/school-streets/permits-and-exemptions/
More information about the overall School Streets scheme is available here:
https://www.salford.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-travel/school-streets/
Details for each current scheme can also be viewed online:
Peel Hall Primary School – https://www.salford.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-travel/school-streets/school-street-at-peel-hall-primary-school/
Grosvenor Road Primary School – https://www.salford.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-travel/school-streets/school-street-at-grosvenor-road-primary-school/
The council says the School Streets programme is being introduced on a trial basis, with feedback from local communities helping to determine whether the measures become permanent. The wider aim is to reduce traffic levels, tackle pollution outside schools and encourage healthier, more active travel choices.
