Funding to improve safety for pupils walking and cycling to school

20th May 2013

Both Canisbay Primary in Caithness and Edderton Primary in Sutherland have been awarded funding to improve safety for pupils walking and cycling to and from school.
The Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets (CWSS) Programme is funded by the Scottish Government with £237,000 available in Highland.

Schools can submit bids to improve safety on routes to school and encourage active travel. Successful schemes are project managed by the Council’s Road Safety Team who work closely with the schools to develop Safer Routes to School projects and introduce individual School Travel Plans.

Canisbay Primary has been awarded £3,000 to extend the current crossing point which will improve safety for walkers and cyclists and Edderton Primary has been awarded £10,000 to develop a drop off area and put in place bollards and raised humps on a crossing point.

The Highland Council has a commitment in its Programme to provide more safe cycle tracks and “walk to school” pathways and to encourage healthier and greener methods of travel.

Leader of the Caithness and Sutherland Area Committee, Councillor Deirdre Mackay said: “Our Road Safety Team do a lot of work with schools to encourage pupils, parents and staff to think about their travel choices and consider walking or cycling rather than using a car. By making routes by schools safer we hope to promote the health benefits of using bikes or walking which is also good news for our environment.

“I’m delighted for both Canisbay and Edderton schools as I am sure making some safety improvements can really make a difference and we will see less cars in use on the school runs.”