A SCHEME aimed at encouraging more children to walk and cycle to and from school is supported by eight out of ten people, a council has said.

A consultation held last autumn asked people for their views on proposals for road restrictions outside six primary schools in Brighton and Hove during pick up and drop off times.

It received 740 responses from parents and carers, the school communities and people who live near the schemes.

The schools involved in the first year of the School Streets scheme are Downs Infant School, Downs Junior School, Hove Junior School (Portland Road site), Queen’s Park Primary School, St Mary’s Roman Catholic (RC) Primary School and Westdene Primary School.

Sarah Clayton, headteacher of St Mary’s RC said: “I’m so pleased we’ll soon have School Streets here at St Mary’s and am delighted with the partnership we have with the council to deliver this.

“I know from speaking with parents, carers and local residents that they share the concerns I have about cars backing in and out of Vale Gardens and I’m sure this will make the journey to school safer and more pleasant for everyone.

“I really hope this will encourage more in our school community to change the way they travel to St Mary’s. Walking, cycling, and scooting has so many benefits, not just to our health and wellbeing, but to our climate too.”

In September, members of Brighton and Hove City Council’s Environment, Transport and Sustainability (ETS) committee approved plans to implement a city-wide School Streets programme, with the aim of delivering six schemes per year.

The scheme aimed at creating more space for safer journeys to and from school by reallocating road space during drop-off and pick up times.

The timed restrictions mean cars cannot access to the roads around schools, making the streets safer for those walking and cycling.

Councillor Steve Davis, co-chairman of the environment, transport and sustainability committees said: “It’s great to see School Streets expanding across the city and I can’t wait to see them in operation.

“The consultation and engagement we’ve done shows we have the support of the local community to deliver schemes that benefit children as well as wider communities.”