BOLLARDS are now in place at a junction as part of “semi-permanent” measures to make a road safer near a school.

The junction between Somerhill Road and Lansdowne Road in Hove has been closed to motor vehicles as part of the School Streets scheme, ahead of pupils’ return to the classroom on Monday.

The trial closure, which has been brought in through an experimental traffic regulation order, means only cyclists and pedestrians can enter Somerhill Road from its southern end.

READ MORE: School Streets scheme: these are the road closures in East Sussex

Motor vehicles will also not be able to access Somerhill Road from the opposite end, south of the junction with Somerhill Avenue, between 8am and 10am and between 2pm and 4pm on school days during term time, as part of the School Streets scheme outside Brunswick Primary School.

The Argus:

Brighton and Hove City Council said closing the junction at one end entirely will make the restrictions during school drop-off and pick-up hours “clearer and easier for motorists to understand” and will reduce the need for volunteer marshals at one end of the road.

According to the plans, at the other end of the street volunteers will operate a gate at the junction with Somerhill Avenue during school drop-off and pick up hours.

READ MORE: Portslade school is fourth to join School Streets in Brighton and Hove

The junction closure also means refuse bins in the street have to be moved.

In a letter to residents, the council said it will “work closely with residents and City Clean to ensure they are relocated to an appropriate place”.

The Argus: The southern end of Somerhill Road, where vehicles will have to turn around to exit the roadThe southern end of Somerhill Road, where vehicles will have to turn around to exit the road

The junction between Queen’s Park Terrace junction with Queen's Park Rise, outside St Luke’s Primary School in Brighton, will also be closed 24 hours a day, with similar bollards installed.

The experimental traffic regulation orders will be in place for up to 18 months and the public can make comments or objections until August 22, at brighton-hove.gov.uk/current-traffic-regulation-orders.

Before the end of the 18-month period, the council must decide whether to amend or renew the temporary order, revert to previous arrangements or to make the changes permanent.

The Argus: The new bollards in Somerhill Road, Hove The new bollards in Somerhill Road, Hove

The following roads will be closed to motorists during school drop-off and pick-up hours:

  • The entire length of Florence Place, outside Downs Infants School
  • Grantham Road outside Downs Junior School, from the junction with Ditchling Road to the junction with Edburton Avenue
  • Somerhill Road outside Brunswick Primary School, south of the junction with Somerhill Avenue
  • Queen’s Park Rise outside St Luke’s Primary School, between Queen’s Park Terrace and St Luke’s Terrace
  • Highlands Road, west of the junction with Fairfield Gardens, outside St Nicolas CE Primary School in Portslade.

Launched in September, the School Streets scheme aims to support physical distancing outside schools by reducing the street space vehicles occupy.

The scheme is also designed to encourage healthy, sustainable forms of travel and to make roads safer outside schools.

SEE ALSO: Residents in Queen’s Park slam new junction closure

Last week residents in Queen’s Park Rise displayed signs in their windows against the 24-hour junction closure, which said they had “not been consulted”.

One resident said he had received a letter from the council one week before the measures were due to take effect.

He said: "We just got told it was happening and if we wanted to object we could but they are actually building it a week after we got the letter.

"I don't mind that the road gets closed off twice a day - it is no inconvenience to us. But I cannot understand the logic of closing the road permanently.

"I don't see the point of it. It just doesn't make sense."