'School Streets', ever heard of it? Yes, its the very thing every school is built on. But what about the School Streets scheme.

 

Over the last few years, a new scheme known as School Streets, surfaced into schools and media.

The scheme is designed to temporarily restrict school roads during drop-off and pick-up times in order to supposedly create a more healthy and safe environment around schools, improve air quality, reduce pollution and car travel by encouraging parents and children to walk or cycle to school. Previously, the scheme had been trialled by the Southend Council at schools such as, West Leigh School and Bournes Green School, and despite receiving positive feedback from headteachers and parents, uncertainty remained amongst others. 

Councillor Yvonne Forsey (a cabinet member for climate change and bio-diversity), stated that: “Walking and cycling can have a positive impact on both our environment and health and wellbeing, and we want to maximise opportunities for children and their parents or guardians to leave the car at home when travelling to and from school”. 

However, recent news of the scheme has caused discussions and debates amidst people, especially parents, regarding the tension and trouble that could be resulted: if the scheme were to become widespread within schools. It has been argued that people should be able to learn, to act properly and in a civilised manner; in which further supported by the idea to encourage others to be more mindful when crossing roads, whilst others argue that it is indeed the parents who are to blame for insensitive parking, and causing disruption around schools.

Despite all this, the scheme has still received positive responses and schools are encouraged to consider becoming part of it, whilst many have been in favour of the scheme, others took to social media to emphasise the chaos and trouble it would cause around schools and for other drivers, it is insisted that this matter largely concerns many factors, impacting the success of the scheme: for example, the location of schools which are mostly on tight, busy roads and others’ close to shopping centres and homes, other problems include that it would block roads preventing drivers from getting through (especially during busy hours such as in the mornings). Though, discussion of alternative methods such as further reducing speed limits have been brought up but not yet officially considered. 

It cannot be for certain whether the outcomes of the scheme are more benefiting than limiting but as society advances, so must technology to keep up, and sometimes these technologies create more problems which affect our daily lives, therefore we can only increase our understanding and learn from them, as we continue to make hard and unfamiliar decisions everyday.

So what does this all mean for balancing our everyday lives whilst also adjusting to our always developing world?

What are your thoughts on the school streets scheme?

 

 

-Zahra Yaqobi