Medway: Seven new School Streets to be introduced by council

Medway Council is to introduce seven new School Streets across towns in the area

Seven roads outside schools in Kent will be closed to traffic for hours at a time so children can play safely together outside.

Medway Council is to introduce seven new School Streets across towns in the area.

A School Street is a road outside a school that becomes a pedestrian and cycle only area at drop-off and pick-up times during the school term.

The council said it hoped it would improve air quality and safety.

It said it also aimed to reduce congestion and parking problems.

Similar schemes have already been introduced in Surrey, London, Shropshire, West Midlands, Warwickshire and other areas.

The council said it had secured £486,000 from the government's Active Travel Fund to support the scheme, which would not be in place during school holidays or weekends.

Following a public consultation last year, the School Streets scheme will be introduced at:

• Burnt Oak Primary School, Cornwall Road, Gillingham

• Greenvale Primary School, Symons Avenue, Chatham

• Miers Court Primary School, Silverspot Close, Rainham

• Phoenix Primary School, Glencoe Road, Chatham

• St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Greenfield Road, Gillingham

• St Peter's Infant School, Holcombe Road, Rochester

• St Thomas More Catholic Primary School, Bleakwood Road, Walderslade

The scheme will be implemented in stages, starting in early 2024.

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