- Introduction and Background
- Benefits of the Traffic-Free Schools
- Pilot scheme
- Restriction Arrangements
- Further information and contact details
Introduction and background
A Traffic-Free Schools pilot project is being introduced at four schools across East Dunbartonshire as the Council delivers on its commitment to improve road safety and encourage active travel at primary schools, as set out within the Parking Management Plan, approved in 2022.
Traffic-Free Schools is an initiative where sections of road immediately outside the entrance to schools are subject to prohibition of driving restrictions for a short time at the start and end of the school day. This can improve safety by reducing the volume of vehicles parked and moving around at the busiest areas for children and adults accessing the school. It can also make places more attractive for walking, wheeling and cycling, encouraging more journeys to be made in this way.
The pilot project will begin on 20 November 2023 and will run until 20 December 2024. This will allow a suitable period for the project to bed in and its effectiveness to be properly monitored.
Benefits of the Traffic-Free Schools
The core objectives of this project are to improve road safety and the surrounding environment outside schools for pupils, carers and neighbouring residents. By restricting the street during set times, it will help to create a safer and more pleasant environment for children and parents alike.
By reducing the access to the street during the core times, this could result in the following benefits for the core school drop off / pick up times:
- An increase in road safety and a reduction in the volume of traffic
- An increase in walking, cycling and wheeling to schools
- Improvements in air quality and noise pollution
Pilot scheme
Since the Parking Management Plan was approved, the Council has been conducting a robust school selection process to identify suitable school locations to be included in a pilot project. Following this selection process, the below locations have been selected for the pilot scheme:
Clober Primary School, Milngavie
- Kirk Street
- Craigielea Crescent (from its junction with Kirk Street to its junction with Ashburn Road)
Craighead Primary School, Milton of Campsie
- Craighead Road
- Craighead Avenue
- School Lane
St. Matthew’s Primary School and Wester Cleddens Primary School, Bishopbriggs
- Park Road (from its junction with Hillside Drive to its junction with Birnam Avenue)
Restriction Arrangements
An Experimental Traffic Regulation Order will be used to prohibit driving on the relevant roads at each school between 08.30 - 09.15 and 14.30 - 15.15, Monday to Friday, during school term time.
Access will be maintained at all times for permit holders, blue-badge holders and permitted vehicles.
Those permitted access include:
- Permit holders – permits will only be issued to households and businesses within the road restriction zone. All households and businesses who will be affected by this project are being contacted directly.
- Emergency permits will be available to school staff to allow for any necessary movement within the times of operation.
- Emergency services, doctors on call, district nurses, carers and support workers.
- School buses and school transport serving the school (including school contract taxis).
- Blue badge holders.
- All postal and delivery vehicles.
- Council vehicles, e.g., refuse vehicles and statutory undertakers (utility companies) serving properties within the affected zone.
- All vehicles being used in connection with weddings or funerals”
If a person driving a vehicle not covered by the above exemption enters the restricted zone during the restricted period, then they will be committing an offence. An offence such as this would be enforced by Police Scotland who may issue a £50 Fixed Penalty Notice.
Existing parking restrictions within the zone remain unaffected and may still be subject to enforcement action from the Council.
Further information and contact details
To discuss any part of this project further, you can contact the Traffic and Transport team by email at TrafficFreeSchools@eastdunbarton.gov.uk or by phoning 0300 123 4510 and asking to speak to the Traffic and Transport team.