School children, parents and carers can look forward to a safer, cleaner, more sustainable journey to school today as Sutton Council launches 10 new School Streets across the borough.
The schemes restrict motorised traffic outside schools during drop-off and pick-up times. This reduces air pollution and congestion, making it easier and safer for families to walk, cycle or scoot to school. The schemes, which launch as world leaders gather for the COP26 summit, are also part of the Council’s sustainability commitments under its ‘Ambitious for Sutton’ plan.
Councillor Manuel Abellan, Chair of Sutton Council’s Environment & Sustainable Transport Committee, said:
“It’s been proven that streets congested with vehicles have a negative impact on our children’s health, and that asthma and lung and heart conditions are linked to vehicle pollution. The introduction of these new School Streets will make children, parents and carers safer as they travel to school.
“As we build back from the pandemic, the health, wellbeing and safety of our residents is at the top of our agenda and the School Streets scheme will help towards that. We want Sutton to be a borough where families feel safe during their everyday lives.”
The introduction of the ten school streets follows consultations with affected residents and businesses in the area. Full details, including a list of the ten school streets and details of how residents living within the scheme area can apply for exemption, can be found at bit.ly/SuttonSchoolStreets.
Introducing School Streets is just one part of Sutton’s ambitious plans to tackle climate change and ensure a stronger recovery from the pandemic, which are set out in the Council’s Environment Strategy.
