Schools gear up to leave cars at home

MORE than 100 Rotherham schools have signed up to help reduce the number of cars on the town's roads.

This year alone 30 schools have agreed to organise their own travel plans which encourage pupils use other forms of transport under a council scheme called Making Trax.

They are encouraged to walk, cycle, car-share, or use public transport to get to school instead of being taken by car.

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A total of 177,785 has been allocated by the Government to help the schools implement the plans and they have been provided with educational resources that highlight the health and environmental benefits.

Some schools have already installed bike racks, organised car-share, and set up walking bus schemes to supervise younger students as they walk to school.

Over the last three years more than 500,000 of government cash has been given to Rotherham schools to develop travel plans.

Rotherham’s School Travel Plan Officer, Vince Boulter, said: “In the first three years of Making Trax we have worked with over 100 schools to devise travel plans. Thanks to the continued help and support of teachers, parents and students, they have been a great success for all the schools taking part.”

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“By this time next year we hope to have welcomed the remaining few schools on to the scheme“.

Steve Brown of Making Trax said: “School Travel Plans are an important part of our programme to get people to make smarter choices about the way they travel.

“People across the world are beginning to realise that actions such as the way their children get to school can have a significant effect in reducing CO2 emissions.

“We can help Rotherham schools and businesses introduce travel plans to reduce their carbon footprint by providing free advice and promotional literature.”

For more information on the Making Trax campaign email [email protected] or call Steve Brown on 01709 822186.