School Streets scheme expanding to other schools in the borough
Cheshire West and Chester Council’s transport team are delivering School Streets in the borough as part of our plans to improve road safety, encourage walking, wheeling, cycling, and scooting to and from school and improve the air quality and environment outside schools.
School Streets is an initiative whereby the street or streets immediately outside the school entrance are closed to non-essential motorised vehicles at school opening and closing times.
Only people walking, wheeling, cycling, and scooting are permitted access to the School Street zone while the restriction is in place, with exemptions given to emergency vehicles and Blue Badge holders. Permits will be given to residents living and businesses working within the zone.
Reducing the use of private car journeys to and from school should lead to:
- Less road danger from traffic
- Less anti-social behaviour from inconsiderate parking and dangerous driving
- More children walking, cycling, and scooting to school
- Reduced congestion and local pollution from idling vehicles.
Two schools in the borough, Our Lady’s Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School and Woodlands Primary School in Ellesmere Port have been taking part in a pilot School Streets project, which launched in 2023.
The Street Steward at Our Lady’s Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School feedback on how the scheme had been going after a few weeks of it being in place: “The scheme has worked brilliantly. We have had no parents park on Windsor Drive - with the exception of one car with a blue badge. The residents I have spoken to are very happy. The parents and children are over the moon. I have heard 'I want to walk/skate/scoot ' numerous times and everyone is so much happier.”
Some of the responses received through a survey shared with families and local residents in the areas of the School Streets Pilot project, include:
“Best thing that has ever happened in the 30 years I've lived here. I've tried on numerous occasions to get something sorted as it was always an accident waiting to happen. I am very impressed with the system that has been put in place. Thank you.”
“Keeping the school street closed is a great idea, I now feel it is safe for my daughter to come out of school and cross the road easily.”
The Council is aiming to start another three School Streets during 2025-26. Consultation with schools is underway and public consultation with residents and parents at Guilden Sutton Primary School started in October 2025.
Find out more about School Streets
