School run restrictions could be expanded in North Solihull

TRAFFIC restrictions trialled at Marston Green Infant Academy could be introduced outside more schools in North Solihull.

This week Solihull Council agreed that its School Streets scheme, which was introduced in September 2017, should be made permanent.

The strict conditions ban parents from driving down certain roads at the start and end of the school day. Those caught flouting the rules face being handed a £70 fine. 

Highways officers have said that congestion surrounding the school has improved, although admitted not everyone has stuck to the rules.

On Thursday, Coun Ted Richards, cabinet member for transport and highways, argued the scheme had been a success and it made sense to look at options for introducing it elsewhere.

"Restricting roads entirely at certain times of the day may sound pretty extreme but actually what our pilot has shown is that, when managed properly, these closures can really benefit the local community," he said.

Marston Green Infants, in Elm Farm Avenue, had been selected as one of three sites to pilot the project, alongside Oak Cottage Primary, in Olton, and Haslucks Green Juniors, Shirley.

The council has a list of nine more schools where it thinks a similar system could help cut congestion and reduce pollution.

Castle Bromwich Juniors, Marston Green Juniors and Yorkswood Primary are among those where investigations will be taking place in the coming months.

A decision on whether to roll out the School Streets scheme to some or all of these locations is likely to be made in the summer.

Billed as the first project of its kind in England, the restrictions were modelled on a similar arrangement which had previously been introduced in Edinburgh.

Some residents welcomed the changes, because of concerns about chaotic scenes during the school run. Although some parents picking up and dropping off children were less happy about the ban.