Cars restricted at five schools to improve safety

Vehicle access will be restricted during drop-off and pick-up times at schools like Lugwardine Primary Academy to improve safety around school gates

Cars are to be restricted at drop-off and pick-up times at five schools to improve safety and congestion.

Herefordshire Council's Safer School Streets plan starts on 3 November between the hours of 08:10-09:10 and 14:50-15:50 on weekdays.

It aims to tackle problems such as pavement parking, blocked driveways and unsafe conditions for pupils, parents and residents.

While some parents have welcomed the changes, highlighting "near misses" involving pupils, others said it could be challenging for families managing multiple school runs.

The initiative will begin around:

• Broadlands Primary School, Hereford - Broadlands Lane, from the junction of Aylestone Hill

• Lord Scudamore Academy, Hereford - Friars Street, from the junction of Barton Road

• Lugwardine Primary Academy, Bartestree - Barnaby Avenue from the junction at Burdon Drive

• Riverside Primary School, Hereford - Belmont Avenue, from the junction of Belmont Court, and Hunderton Avenue from the junction at Hunderton Road

• Trinity Primary School, Hereford - Barricombe Drive from the junction at Moor Farm Lane/Sheridan Road

Residents, businesses and healthcare providers within the zones will be able to apply for free permits, while emergency services, postal vans and school buses will be exempt.

Siobhan Green says she will be able to get out of her drive in the morning to go to work with the changes

Siobhan Green, who is a parent of a child at Lugwardine Primary Academy and lives on the same road, said: "I can understand it from all angles, but it will be nice to be able to get out of my driveway in the morning. I'm notorious for being late to work because of it."

She added: "Yes, people are going to have to adjust their daily schedule, but I would rather walk an extra five minutes and know that the children are going to be safe."

"I've personally witnessed a few near misses myself. They shouldn't have that fear that they're going to get hit."

During a visit to Lugwardine's playground, others mentioned that, while the designated parking area was only a five-minute walk away, the additional journey time it took made it harder to collect other children on time.

The school's headteacher Kim Lane said: "We're really lucky to be one of the trial schools, and our parish council and local community has been really supportive."

"Volunteers open the gates bright and early every morning at the village hall to allow our parents and pupils to park there."

The Safer School Streets project forms part of the council's wider Improving Transport in Hereford programme

Deputy headteacher Mr Goodarzi added there was "a real community buy-in", with some parents already having adopted the change.

"Even though what's about to happen is new, we've already been easing into it for some time anyway," he added.

The Safer School Streets project forms part of the council's wider Improving Transport in Hereford programme, backed by £19.9m from the UK Government's Levelling Up Fund.

The council said the scheme reflected its commitment to making travel in the city safer and more sustainable.