Closure of busy road outside Sheffield school hailed a 'big success'

Parts of Anns Road and Gleadless Road, close to Anns Grove Primary School, are closed during school drop-off and pick-up times this week.

The closure is part of a pilot scheme with Sheffield Council, a move which is hoped will make the streets safer for pupils, encourage more children to walk, cycle or scoot to school and reduce pollution.

Anns Grove Headteacher Samantha Fearnehough said she has been really impressed with the support of the community, parents and carers.

She said: “We’ve had no complaints from anyone and this morning was a carnival atmosphere on the streets around the school. I’m hoping that the trial this week will help parents, carers and staff find alternative ways to travel and if they do have to drive to find places to park away from school so they can walk a short distance to the gates.

“There are lots of activities going on all through the week for the children so everyone is having fun while we try to get across a very serious message about traffic around schools.”

Last year, Sheffield Council announced that Anns Grove was one of five schools which would be asked if they wanted to trial the scheme, along with Holt House, Nether Edge, Dobcroft Infant and Oasis Fir Vale.

It is the biggest trial so far in Sheffield of the School Streets closures, which have been implemented successfully elsewhere in the country.

If successful the measure could be rolled out at schools across the city, and the early signs are promising with those at Holt House, which completed a trial of the pilot scheme in November, also hailing the move a success.

The week-long road closures around Anns Grove are being supported by school governors and councillors.

Trials at other schools are expected to take place over the coming year, after which councillors will assess the impact and consider whether to roll the initiative out more widely.