Measures to avoid traffic chaos outside two city schools are set to become a permanent fixture after positive feedback from parents and headteachers.
Cumbria County Council introduced experimental traffic measures outside St Bede’s Catholic School, Carlisle and Inglewood Infant School in November 2021.
The traffic orders are part of the School Streets Initiative, designed to address congestion, road safety and air quality concerns during hours that parents typically drop off and pick up their children.
Restrictions on Strathclyde Avenue and School Road ban vehicles outside St Bede’s and Inglewood with exemptions for emergency vehicles and those with disabilities.
As well as an effort to avert traffic chaos before school starts, the restrictions are also designed to encourage cycling and walking. Cumbria County Council’s Local Committee for Carlisle met on Monday, voting to make the restrictions permanent.
Council officer Abigail Dodds told councillors: “Both have been really well received, just before the summer I went to see the headteacher of St Bede’s and she’s really happy, the school are really behind the scheme they’d like to continue.
“And I went to Inglewood Infants, it just happened to be sports day, so I actually got to meet some of the parents as well as talking to the head.
“I spoke to parents who usually walk to school and I spoke to parents who generally drive and they were all really happy with the scheme. It felt a lot safer for the children, they were happy to park elsewhere and walk, so I’m really happy with both of them.”
The nursery asked for an amendment to the restriction so that times are better suited to their school day which was also approved by councillors.
Chairman Cyril Weber said: “We have had issues at Inglewood, the PCSOs have been there on a couple of occasions to tell people, ‘look you’re not obeying what the signs are saying’ and it’s proved successful, it does work and hopefully we can introduce it elsewhere.”
Councillor for Yewdale Stephen Haralsden said: “So they were experimental, they’ve worked well, what next? Parking at schools is by far the thing I’ve had more emails, calls and letters about in the past five and a half years than anything else.
“If these are experimental then what are the results and when are we going out to the other schools in the district and what’s the time frame?”
Ms Dodds said: “I suppose that would be a decision for the new Cumberland Council, at the moment we haven’t got any plans for the others but I’d like to. I think it would be definitely good for other areas.”
