Ealing Council has announced that Southall’s Villiers High School has become the first secondary school in the borough to be part of school street.
The school street scheme, which now has 28 schools across Ealing signed up, encourages more children to travel to and from school by foot or bike/scooter instead of being dropped off by car. If cars enter designated streets used for the scheme during school opening and closing times, drivers will be fined £130.
Blue badge holders working in the area or transporting pupils to the school and parents of a children with a blue badge attending the school can apply for a special permit for access.
Councillor Peter Mason, leader of Ealing Council said: “A quarter of London’s morning traffic is made up of parents driving their children to school, yet most students in Ealing live within a mile of their school. That’s why, as part of our wider ambition to create more space for active travel and improve air quality in the borough, we made a commitment in our council plan to rapidly expand our school streets programme.”
Councillor Deirdre Costigan, deputy leader and cabinet member for climate action added: “From Southall to Greenford and across our 7 towns, it’s great to see more of our young people able to walk and cycle to school in safety. With 28 schools now signed up, we are well on our way to deliver on our promise of 50 school streets in the borough by 2026.”
Councillor Costigan added: “By signing up to the council’s plans, schools and pupils are helping to fight traffic congestion and air pollution, while also making families healthier and safer.”
Other recent schools joining the scheme over the last two weeks are Stanhope Primary in Greenford and Greenwood Primary in Northolt.
