Frome’s Safer School Streets scheme made permanent

Local TV

Road restrictions around four Frome schools will stay in place after a successful trial. Traffic speeds and congestion have dropped since the scheme began last year.

Transcript

00:00The Safer School Street scheme in Frome is no longer a trial.

00:04It's now a permanent fixture on the town's roads,

00:07following more than a year of monitoring, consultation and community feedback.

00:11Launched in April last year, the project closed several key roads around four primary schools

00:16to motor traffic during pick-up and drop-off times.

00:20The aim was simple, to make those short but often hectic school runs safer and calmer

00:25and to encourage families to choose walking, cycling or scooting instead of using the car.

00:30The restrictions came alongside new 20-mile-an-hour speed limits

00:33and a range of traffic-calming features such as bollards, planters and signage

00:38designed to alert drivers to slower speed zones.

00:41The 18-month trial was funded by the Department for Transport

00:44and delivered by Frome Town Council in partnership with Somerset Council and the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust.

00:51A public consultation held earlier this year confirmed widespread support for keeping the measures.

00:57Data collected throughout the trial showed a clear drop in both congestion

01:01and vehicle speeds on the affected routes.

01:04On Park Road near Avanti Park School, CCTV recorded an average 36% reduction in traffic volumes

01:10at school run times.

01:12Surveys from the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust also showed lower speeds on Somerset Road and Oakfield Road.

01:18Frome Town Council says the decision to make the scheme permanent reflects strong local backing

01:23and the visible impact on road safety.

01:27Somerset Council's transport team will also carry out a repeat road safety audit

01:31to ensure that infrastructure continues to meet current standards.

01:35The permanent traffic order means timed closures, 20-mile-an-hour limits

01:39and calming measures are now a regular part of daily life

01:42for families, drivers and pupils across Frome.

01:44The

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended