School Streets initiative implemented at Tilehurst’s Brookfield’s School to ensure pupil safety

A new road scheme is now in place around a school to ensure the safety of its pupils, writes Martha White.

Reading West and Mid Berkshire MP Olivia Bailey welcomed the news that Brookfield’s School in Tilehurst had secured government funding for two maintenance and safety projects.

These projects will ensure that pupils are in an environment where they can “achieve and thrive safely”, she said.

Its purpose is to restrict motorised traffic during school drop off and pick up times on streets outside Springfield Primary School, and disobeying the order will result in a fine.

Access to the school via Barton Road will be restricted for one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon, with no one able to enter without a registered vehicle or a valid Blue Badge.

Ms Bailey said: ‘’The Labour government is turning the page through our Plan for Change literally fixing the foundations of our schools so local children are in a safe environment where they can achieve and thrive.”

The funding is part of a £2.1 billion investment into the school estate this year.

Education secretary Bridget Philipson added: ‘’Parents expect their children to learn in a safe warm environment.

“It’s what children deserve and it’s what we are delivering.

“This investment is about more than just buildings - it's about showing children that their education matters, their futures matter, and this government is determined to give them the best possible start in life.”

A survey was undertaken by West Berkshire Council, which asked staff, parents and pupils at the school about the scheme in order to identify what stops people from walking, scooting or cycling to school and what would help them to do so.

Some parents said they felt the route wasn’t safe, staff said they had too much to carry or that they live too far away and there was no cycle storage.

And pupils said they end up driving as they aren’t ready in the morning.

The School Streets scheme started this week and will remain in place for six to nine months after which the council will review the scheme to see whether it is working and make a decision as to whether to change it or make it permanent.