Leeds School Streets pilot scheme launched on 1 June, with up to six Leeds primary schools taking part.

Pudsey Primrose Hill Primary School, Pudsey; Ingram Road Primary School, Holbeck; Cross Gates Primary School, Cross Gates; Thorpe Primary School, Thorpe; Clapgate Primary, Middleton; and Lane End Primary, Beeston are the first schools to take part in the pilot scheme.

School Streets make roads outside schools into pedestrian and cyclist only zones at the times displayed on the signs and only during term time. This helps to reduce air pollution and keep children safe from traffic.

In Leeds, School Streets will help to make roads safer, improve air quality, encourage more walking, scooting and cycling to and from school, and reduce school-related congestion.

The pilot schemes will use a temporary traffic regulation order, restricting traffic to help with phased and staggered returns for those children who are going back to school. Residents living within the new school street zones have been issued with permits so that they can continue to enter and leave the zone freely. Blue Badge-holders and emergency vehicles will also have full access.

As part of the council’s response to Covid-19, Leeds City Council is taking emergency action to help people of all ages have space to walk and cycle safely. An online consultation launched on 15 May, has already seen more than 16,000 contributions from people with places to widen pavements, install temporary cycle lanes, create quieter residential streets and make more space outside schools.

People can continue to suggest schemes to help make walking and cycling safer by visiting https://leedscovidschoolstreets.commonplace.is/