Vehicles are to be banned from the area around a Carlisle school at peak times to improve road safety.
Cumbria County Council introduced an experimental order to introduce a pedestrian and cycle zone in School Road, Harraby in November last year.
The cul-de-sac leads up to Inglewood Infant School and the order banned vehicles between 8.15am and 9.15am and 2.30pm and 3.30pm when children were going to and from school.
However, the initiative did not prove popular with everyone and a school spokesman said in feedback to the council: “There has been a definite reduction in the numbers of cars driving down School Road.
“More children are walking, cycling or scooting and they can go down the road safely.
“Some cars are still ignoring restrictions and headteacher has been verbally abused on several occasions by drivers insisting on driving down the street.”
It had been recommended by officers to make it a permanent arrangement and members of Cumberland Council’s highways and transport strategic board, as well as representatives from the various community panels, debated the matter yesterday.
The meeting was at Allerdale House in Workington and Abigail Dodds, a traffic management team leader, said it was important to have input from the school and residents and so far it had been very successful.
Councillor Elaine Lynch (Wigton, Labour), the portfolio holder for lifelong learning and development, said that as well as the safety aspect it would also reduce pollution and added: “This to me is fantastic.”
She suggested that it should be introduced into other areas and said: “It’s a big issue, particularly in the narrow streets like this, because this is where people are dropping children off.”
Councillor Roger Dobson (Corby and Hayton, Lib Dems) said he was shocked that the head teacher had been abused by some motorists.
He said he also would like to see it in other areas. He said: “And 20mph speed limits – not just near schools but in other areas.”
Councillor Mark Fryer (St John’s and Great Clifton, Labour), the council leader, said if it was made permanent then it had to be enforced with offenders who did not follow the rules prosecuted.
Councillor John Mallinson (Houghton and Irthington, Conservative) agreed that it should be enforced and added: “I’ve schools on my patch where it’s a significant issue. There can’t be anything more important than the safety of our children. If you can’t enforce the thing, then it will fall into disrepute.”
He called for better liaison with the police so offenders could be caught and also felt that it could be expanded into other areas.
Cllr Dobson said that enforcement should be factored in and added: “We need to take into account that we are trying to change the culture. The majority of the problem is the parents taking their children to the school.”
Members of the board approved the move to make the order permanent, with exemptions including emergency vehicles, blue badge holders and residents.
