Leeds City Council is proposing to introduce new measures on streets surrounding schools in Middleton and Halton Moor to improve access to schools and local amenities by making walking, wheeling, and cycling safer and more accessible.
The streets surrounding the schools Primary School in Middleton, and Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School and College in Halton Moor suffer from high levels of congestion.
Each also experiences high levels of driving and parking on pavements during school drop off and pick up times, narrow paths, and lack of safe and convenient crossings making walking, wheeling and cycling feel unsafe.
The proposals aim to improve walking, wheeling and cycling routes to schools and reduce car dependency on these busy streets.
The proposals will aim to help build a safe, healthy and attractive environment for people of all ages to walk, wheel and cycle as part of their journey to and from school.
The council also stated that these measures align with its broader goals of promoting active travel, and supporting Vision Zero, which aims to eliminate road deaths and serious injuries in Leeds by 2040.
Delivered in partnership with West Yorkshire Combined Authority, £750,000 funding from Active Travel England’s Active Travel Fund 5 (ATF5) has been awarded to help develop and deliver the scheme.
Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, Jonathan Pryor, said: “The Access to Schools project is a vital step toward creating safer, easier ways for people to choose active travel to and from school.
“Investments like this help toward our Vision Zero Strategy of eliminating serious injury and deaths on Leeds roads by 2040 by creating safer walking and cycling links in key areas of the city and improving road safety for everyone.
“We urge everyone who uses this route—whether you walk, cycle, drive, or take the bus—to share your views and help shape the future of this area.”
