This decision comes after a successful trial that demonstrated significant improvements in traffic management and increased active travel among pupils. The scheme will now be expanded to other schools across Central Bedfordshire, with further trials and rollouts planned.
The School Streets initiative involves timed road closures during peak school hours on weekdays, aiming to improve safety for pupils and promote walking, wheeling, and cycling as the primary means of travelling to and from school.
The trial at Dunstable Icknield Lower School led to notable improvements in traffic and parking behaviours outside the school gates, and the initiative received strong support from stakeholders, including parents, guardians, and residents.
Responding to a survey, where 78% of the respondents were positive about the scheme, one parent, who is also a staff member, commented:
It's a fantastic scheme, children are happier, parents are happier and it’s so much safer.
Headteacher Mrs Glynn Stirling said:
The School Streets initiative has had a huge positive impact on the environment, the safety and the wellbeing of the children and community in the morning and afternoons.
Councillor Tracey Wye, our Executive Member for Sustainability and Climate Resilience, praised the outcomes of the trial and highlighted the wider benefits of School Streets for the community:
The success of the School Street at Dunstable Icknield Lower School shows these schemes can significantly enhance safety for our children while promoting healthier, more sustainable forms of travel. I am pleased so many parents and carers also agree and have decided to park-and-stride rather than park in the streets leading to school. I applaud those who have changed their habits, and the efforts of the school to get the buy-in of the adults doing the school run. There are still a few more to get on board and I hope they do the right thing and take the council up on the offer of free parking in Ashton Square.
By reducing car traffic during peak times, it shows with a team effort we can create a safer and nicer start to the school day for pupils and improve air quality around the school gate. I look forward to seeing this initiative expand across Central Bedfordshire as part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability and resilience.
The trial also introduced a 'park and stride' system, with qualifying parents and guardians of pupils being offered 30 minutes of free parking at Ashton Square car park during School Street closures. This arrangement will continue in the future, encouraging active travel while providing convenient alternatives for those who must drive part of the way.
We confirmed that the trial approach used at Icknield School will serve as the model for future School Streets schemes. Additional schools across Central Bedfordshire will be identified for trials, with a view to wider implementation. We will work closely with schools, parents, and local communities to ensure smooth rollouts of these schemes.
This initiative aligns with our refreshed Sustainability Plan, which prioritises health and environmental sustainability.