The section of Dimond Road outside Bitterne Park School between Newton and Ash Tree roads is to be closed to vehicles during term time from 2.45pm – 3.15pm Monday – Friday, the school has announced.
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It added on its Facebook page: “There will be no vehicle access during this time apart from resident passes that have already been distributed to those affected. Thank you for your support with this.”
It appears to be part of the national School Streets initiative, which is supported by Southampton City Council.
“Southampton City Council is committed to creating spaces outside schools that are safe for the public at drop off and pick up times, in particular through expanding the existing School Streets programme,” says the council’s My Journey website.
“School Streets are where the road outside a school temporarily becomes a pedestrian and cycle zone during drop-off and pick-up times. It is a tried and tested way of creating a safe space by removing traffic and parents' cars from the road outside a school, so that it can be used safely by families to travel on foot, by bike or by scooter to school.”
The school tweeted on Monday (June 6):
Starting from tomorrow, the section of Dimond Road between Newton Road and Ash Tree Road will be closed between 2.45pm - 3.15pm Mon - Fri during term time. There will be no vehicle access during this time. pic.twitter.com/QRXokvPeuF
— Bitterne Park School (@BitterneParkSch) June 6, 2022
In a letter to parents in March, the school wrote:
"The proposal put forward is that Dimond Road between Ash Tree Road and Newton Road will be closed to vehicles between 2.45pm until 3.15pm. School staff will be available throughout the closure to allow access for emergency vehicles, residents who live within the closure, blue badge holders and delivery vehicles who are required to deliver to the residents or the school.
"By removing through traffic from the road, it can be used safely by students to travel on foot or by bike or scooter from school.
"We encourage all families to leave the car at home where possible. Fewer car trips will help to improve local air quality, encourage more exercise, reduce congestion at peak times and reduce road traffic collisions.
"We understand some parents rely on the car for their journey. For those who need to travel by car please remember to park responsibly, considerately and ideally a 5-minute walk from the school."