Trial will ban vehicles entering streets near school

Motor vehicles will be stopped from entering roads near a primary school in Leicester during the school run as part of a trial.

Leicester City Council said the experimental "school street" measure next to St John the Baptist CofE Primary School, Clarendon Park, would start from 2 June.

General traffic will be prohibited from entering the area from 08:15 BST to 09:00 and 14:45 to 15:30, from Monday to Friday.

Geoff Whittle, assistant city mayor for environment and transport, said the school street initiative would result in a safer environment for children.

The Labour-run council said road closure points would be introduced at the junction of The Avenue and Knighton Park Road, and the junctions of East Avenue and Central Avenue with Clarendon Park Road, to prohibit access to motor vehicles, except for those holding exemptions.

The no-entry points will be marked with traffic cones and managed by traffic marshals, it said.

No waiting restrictions will also be introduced on parts of Clarendon Park Road, between its junction with London Road and the zebra crossing close to the school gates, the council added.

The authority said residents in the affected streets could apply for an exemption if they wanted to enter the area during the times of operation.

Whittle added: "School streets mean cleaner air, less congestion and a safer environment for children as they go to and from school.

"We've also seen how school streets can help families adopt healthier habits, with a significant increase in the number of children walking and cycling to school.

"This new trial scheme will be introduced under an experimental traffic order that allow us to test the new measures and listen to feedback before any permanent changes are made."

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