Roads to close around two Elgin primary schools in pilot project

School Streets will see roads temporarily shut to traffic around New Elgin and Seafield primaries from Tuesday 5 January 2021. The trial will last for nine months, after which it will be evaluated.

Both schools have raised road safety concerns alongside residents and school families. It’s hoped the School Streets scheme, which is being paid for through Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets grant funding, will encourage active travel including walking or cycling to school, improving health and wellbeing and creating a safe space for pupils on their daily commute. It will also help tackle air pollution by keeping vehicles off the road during peak times.

The trial is being supported by Police Scotland, which has the authority to enforce fines for non-compliance with the closures in place. Residents who live within the School Street closures will receive a letter from Moray Council explaining how they can apply for a permit, and they will be allowed to enter and leave during the restricted times as normal. All permit holders, and other exempt drivers, are advised to exercise extreme caution if driving during these times as parents, carers and children may be walking on the road. 

Morven Snodgrass, Head Teacher at Seafield Primary, said: “We’re very much looking forward to introducing the Safer Streets scheme to Seafield. This programme will have huge benefits for our local community and its residents; making travel to and from school safer and more enjoyable for families.”

Elaine Milne, Head Teacher at New Elgin Primary, said: “We’re committed to the safety of the children and their families who live in our community. We are a large school and as such have an active Junior Road Safety Officers Group who work closely with our parents and carers and the police, to support our community in staying safe on the roads. We’re very aware of the many incidents which take place on the roads around our school and welcome any measures which will help ensure the safety of our children.”

Chair of Moray Council’s Economic Development and Infrastructure Committee – which approved the scheme – Cllr Graham Leadbitter, said: “Road safety around our schools is an important priority with a range of measures being used to protect children, staff and parents who are accessing our schools. Some of our very busy schools have particular challenges due to large numbers of vehicles in the area at pick-up and drop-off times, and road layouts that can make things very challenging.

“The closure of streets around schools can significantly improve safety and tests have worked really well. These longer-term pilots at New Elgin and Seafield primary schools are an important step forward and are being done with the full support of the schools and Police Scotland.

“We will be working closely with the schools, police and local residents throughout the pilot and I’m very confident that we will have safer streets around these schools as a result.”