A TRAIL-BLAZING safety scheme which closes the road outside two schools during drop-off and pick-up time is set to be made permanent after a successful trial.

Ronald Hill Grove, in Leigh, will now become a permanent “School Street” to ensure the safety of children at both West Leigh Junior School and West Leigh Infant School.

During the trial, which began in April 2021, barriers and cones have been put in place to prevent cars from driving past the schools at drop-off and collection times, after concerns were raised over “inconsiderate drivers”.

Steven Wakefield, councillor responsible for, highways, transport and parking, said: “Lots of people have been asking about school streets because it’s safer for children. It comes down to an inconsiderate minority who won’t park considerately around schools. We’ve been horrified to see people are still parking on yellow zig-zag lines outside schools.

“It’s all about the safety of the children. I’m glad to see they have been welcomed in those areas and now will come to pass for the people that need them.

“We’ve applied for moving traffic cameras. That’s all gone through and the council are applying to the Government for moving traffic orders. When we get that will enable us to do school streets a lot quicker and easier.”

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The West Leigh schools were on of five to trial the scheme in Southend.

A consultation was carried out on Your Say Southend, which ran from October to November, and of the 244 responses, 81 per cent agreed that it had enabled more people to walk and cycle to school in a safer environment.

A total of 77 per cent agreed the scheme has created a healthier environment, 71 per cent agreed it had encouraged them to leave the car at home, while 86 cent said they would support the implementation of the School Streets Scheme permanently.

Greenways Primary School, in Greenways, and Bournes Green Infants and Bournes Green Junior School, both in Ladram Road, Thorpe Bay have also trialled the scheme alongside Leigh’s North Street Primary School, in North Street, and Shoebury’s Richmond Primary School, in Richmond Avenue.