School street trial plans to increase road safety

A scheme is being trialled outside a Guernsey primary school after pupils raised concerns about safety while walking and cycling.

The so-called School Street on Rue de L'Arquet will see a temporary restriction on traffic at drop-off and pick-up times for La Houguette Primary School.

It is being introduced after members of the school's Year 2-6 Rights Respecting Group met with Traffic and Highway Services and the Health Improvement Commission to voice their concerns about road safety and air pollution.

The trial is taking place until 24 May, which is also Walk to School Week and Alternative Transport Week.

'A safe environment'

The School Street initiative first began in Italy in 1989 and has been implemented across the UK and in Europe, including at St Martin's School.

Amelia Hughes is one of the children who put forward the idea of the new trial, saying it would also help the area be more compliant with the United Nations' Convention on the Rights of the Child.

She said: "We found that, if we do the School Street, it will help us with Article 19, the right to be safe; and Article 24, the right to a clean and safe environment; so everybody is safe and they don't have to inhale car fumes."

Head teacher Claire Judd said: “I’m delighted that our pupils have been looking at ways to improve the safety of those who walk and cycle to and from school every day.

"As a UNICEF gold rights-respecting school, it’s so important to see children understanding their rights and seeking to make improvements.”

Paul James, Traffic and Highway Services Road Safety Officer, said, “We welcome the opportunity to trial another School Street following the successful implementation of the School Street in St Martin’s, as we seek to encourage more people to use active travel in line with the States-approved integrated transport strategy."

While the scheme is in place, Rue de L’Arquet will be closed to traffic from the junction with Bas Rouvets to the junction with Route des Adams and Route des Paysans - except for those who cycle and those vehicles accessing properties - from 08:30-09:00 BST and 14:45-15:30.