News / schools
Cars could be banned outside two city centre schools
Car traffic could soon be banned from outside two city centre schools at the start and end of each school day.
The move would aim to make the road safer for pupils, cut air pollution levels near the schools, and increase how many pupils walk and cycle.
Under the new proposals, College Square off Anchor Road would see traffic restrictions from 8.15am to 9am and from 2.45pm to 3.45pm.
is needed now More than ever
Cathedral Primary School and Bristol Cathedral Choir School would join the growing number of schools with traffic restrictions in the city.
Bristol City Council is now consulting parents, carers, staff, residents and businesses in the area about the changes, as part of its School Streets programme.
A public road that goes through the grounds of Cathedral School and Cathedral Primary School could be closed to traffic at school drop-off and pick-up times under new proposals – photo: Martin Booth
Cabinet member for transport, Don Alexander, said: “School Streets provide safer, more sustainable journeys to school, while encouraging good habits in children who get used to active daily travel from an early age.
“We hope there is plenty of support for these measures as they have the potential to transform the space outside these schools, creating a more pleasant environment for everyone, while making sure residents, businesses, pedestrians and cyclists can still use the roads.”
Emergency vehicles and Blue Badge holders would be exempt from the restrictions.
The plan has been supported by Sara Yarnold, headteacher of Cathedral Primary School, and Joseph Thurston, headteacher of Bristol Cathedral School.
In a joint statement, Yarnold and Thurston said: “Turning College Square into a School Street during term-time would give our pupils more confidence to walk and cycle to school, making the area safer and reducing pollution at the school gates.
“We hope these proposals get plenty of support and we look forward to seeing more of our learners travelling actively to school.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
Read next:
- Hotwells Primary School: ‘a small school with a big heart’
- Urgent calls to ban pavement parking across city
- 1,500 bus journeys a week cancelled due to driver shortages
- ‘This administration doffs its cap to institutions that perpetuate social division’
Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast:
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
