A FIVE-YEAR scheme aimed at improving road safety around the town's schools is being launched.

School Safe Environment Zones (SSEZ) will be identified at the beginning of each of the five years. An annual budget of £100,000, funded by Swindon Borough Council, will then support the introduction of a range of measures to improve road safety outside and on the approach to each of the schools included in the list.

Work is due to start at the first school, Tregoze Primary School, this year.

Road signs, road markings, speed limit changes, flashing lights, waiting restrictions and cycling facilities are among the tools at the council's disposal.

There will also be a bid to encourage behavioural change in parents, pupils, staff and neighbours of these schools, which could include five-minute walk zones, Park ‘n’ Stride, anti-idling, air quality toolkits and pupil sign design competitions.

The design of each SSEZ will be bespoke to the characteristics and location of each school as well as the current behaviours of pupils and parents or carers.

An assessment has been completed across all schools in Swindon. Factors included concerns raised by parents, residents, councillors and schools themselves, as well as traffic collision data.

The speed limit of the road, as well as the presence of any pedestrian crossing facilities, along with any existing School Safety Zone features, were also considered.

From this assessment, 15 schools were selected for inclusion in the 2020-21 programme. Along with Tregoze, these include East Wichel Primary, Holy Rood Juniors, Lainesmead, King William Street CE Primary, Lawn Manor Academy, Holy Rood Infants, Beechcroft Infants, Orchid Vale Primary, Croft Primary, Commonweal, St Mary’s Catholic Primary, Holy Family RC Primary, Hazelwood Academy and Nythe Primary.

At the end of each year, the remaining schools will be assessed and reviewed to identify the next batch to benefit from the scheme.

Cabinet member for highways, maintenance and waste services councillor Maureen Penny said: “For children of any age, the roads around schools present a potential danger, especially during busy times of the day.

“As a council, our aim is to support schools in their efforts to mitigate these dangers.

“This scheme will implement physical measures at schools across Swindon that will help to protect pupils from the dangers of the road and will provide valuable knowledge to pupils to help keep themselves as safe as possible.”