To: Jack Scott, Cabinet Member for Transport and Development

Safe School Streets for Sheffield

Close roads at school entrances to motorised traffic during drop off and pick up times to protect children from traffic and traffic related air pollution.

Why is this important?

School Streets are roads next to schools where traffic is restricted during the times of the day when children are arriving or leaving school.

Sheffield has 25 schools in areas of high, sometimes illegal, air pollution. High air pollution levels exacerbate respiratory illnesses like asthma and recent studies have shown that children exposed to high pollution levels have reduced lung capacity that can affect them for the rest of their lives. Sheffield has a clean air strategy that already recognises the need to take action on poor air quality, especially around schools. 20mph and anti-idling initiatives are great but will not make enough of a difference.

Edinburgh, Southwark, Hackney and Solihull have already implemented School Streets to protect children from traffic and traffic related pollution at the school gate. School Streets encourages active travel, improves air quality in the classroom, and reduces traffic congestion for everyone.

How it will be delivered

In person to a meeting of Sheffield Council.

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Updates

2021-05-11 14:36:12 +0100

Wow. Over two years has gone by with almost no progress. There have been trials here and there and people are still looking at options. But we've had an election and a referendum and I think now is the time to push for this again. I've started a Facebook Group if you would like to know more. https://www.facebook.com/groups/971448746939822/ It's called 'Sheffield School Streets NOW'.

2019-02-05 10:03:47 +0000

Hi, everyone. Some good progress is being made. I had my first meeting with a school yesterday, Hunters Bar Juniors, where the Head said that he was interested in School Streets. It had been discussed at the Governors meeting in December and it will be discussed at next week's meeting as well. Also, the long awaited meeting with the council is happening on February 13th. I'm looking for other schools that would be interested in volunteering to trial a scheme. Please email me if you are interested in knowing more.

2019-01-21 13:23:23 +0000

After waiting over a month, I still do not have a meeting scheduled with anyone from Sheffield Council. I'm also still trying to find schools to commit to this. Please speak to your schools and if you like ask your local councillor or Jack Scott what steps we are taking to bring Safe School Streets to Sheffield.

2018-12-08 12:28:53 +0000

I've emailed the transcript of Cllr. Scott's reply to all supporters who have opted-in for further emails. The next steps are for Cllr. Scott to arrange a meeting which he said he would do within the next month.

2018-12-05 20:13:18 +0000

Petition presented to Sheffield Council today. 1,415 was the official number at the time of the presentation. Thanks to Graham Wroe for filming my presentation and the Council's response. I'm going to transcribe it and will email to everyone tomorrow. https://youtu.be/QMQXam0lkbQ

2018-12-03 12:51:18 +0000

1,362 after only two weeks. Sheffield Telegraph interested in doing a story on School Streets. Will postpone presenting the petition to Council until January 9th, 2019 to allow me to collect more data (studying the Edinburgh examples right now) and get more support specifically from schools / school communities.

2018-11-30 16:38:02 +0000

Besides the fact that there are now over 1,200 of us (THANKS!!) wanting safer, less stressful school journeys and better air quality for our children and grandchildren, I heard an interesting development today. The parents of one of our fine schools - I should ask them before I say which one - have organised themselves and have their Councillor and Cabinet Member for Transport, Jack Scott of see for themselves why they need School Streets at their school. This is an amazing development. More info on this next week.

2018-11-30 00:29:26 +0000

A bit of media coverage won't hurt: https://www.jusnews.net/petition-to-close-school-streets-to-reduce-air-pollution-gathers-support/

2018-11-29 12:06:08 +0000

1,000 signatures reached

2018-11-28 22:50:09 +0000

I said in the petition that 20 mph zones were great but they actually may not be making much of a difference to casualty numbers. Seems that "The majority of drivers break the speed limit in 20mph zones in residential areas" Another reason to have School Streets. Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/23/little-evidence-20mph-speed-limit-cuts-casualties-says-uk-report

2018-11-28 21:32:35 +0000

Wow, almost 1,000! The petition will be presented to the Full Council meeting on Wednesday, December 5th at 2pm. Please join me if you can. Whatever the outcome, this campaign does not stop until schools that want it have Safe School Streets. If you want School Streets for your school, please contact me as soon as possible.

2018-11-27 15:42:27 +0000

500 signatures reached

2018-11-27 13:12:47 +0000

Thank you 38 Degrees for sharing my petition around Sheffield to help get the word out. It has generated a lot of interest. Much appreciated.

2018-11-26 21:24:01 +0000

BBC Newsround did this little feature on School Streets recently - we are now up to 40 schools in England that have closed roads during pick up and drop off times. Funny that they talk about England when I think the idea came from Edinburgh. Hmmm.. https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/46286684

2018-11-26 21:22:31 +0000

Hello! We are approaching 200 signatures! 38 Degrees just called, they are thinking of emailing this petition to all of those who have signed other petitions in Sheffield.