Croydon’s pro-car Mayor, Jason Perry, has been forced to run a consultation for the past month to introduce motoring restrictions on six new school streets.
Zoned out: Healthy School Streets make roads safer for children, according to the pro-car Mayor
“It’s so important that we do what we can to make journeys to school as safe as possible for our younger Croydonians,” according to a bloke who rips out cycle schemes, opposes low-traffic neighbourhoods and spent more than a year acting as a cheerleader for ULEZ vandals and climate change deniers.
The Healthy School Streets, according to Croydon Council, “improve road safety around schools and encourage pupils to walk, cycle and scoot more often”. They also generate a considerable income for the cash-strapped council through motorist fines – provided, that is, council staff remember to switch on the correct camera equipment…
The council has been introducing experimental Healthy School Streets since 2017 – often against a barrage of dubious opposition from part-time Perry and his pals.
The schemes limit motor traffic on surrounding roads to schools during school drop-off and pick-up times.
“The council has been working with schools across the borough where there is an interest in introducing a scheme to improve the environment and road safety around them,” the council said earlier this month – omitting to mention that it blocked a seemingly well-considered scheme to benefit three schools on Melville Avenue in South Croydon, on the grounds that it might cause some traffic on neighbouring residential streets.
The schools being considered under the latest round of proposals are:
- Applegarth Academy, Addington CR0 9DL
- Beulah Road Infant and Nursery, Thornton Heath CR7 8NJ
- Harris Primary Academy Purley Way, South Croydon CR0 4FE
- John Wood Primary School, Croydon CR0 6JA
- Riddlesdown Collegiate, Kenley CR8 1EX
- Rowdown Primary School, New Addington CR0 0EG
The Purley Way primary, sited so close to the major road that the school had to be fitted with special air pollution protection, could prove an interesting set of proposals.
“The schools were selected based on requests from ward councillors and residents, and discussions with the school,” the council said.
“Feedback will be used to develop recommendations that will be reported to cabinet; it will then decide on the future of the schemes. If approved, further consultation will be held on the Healthy School Streets during the summer.”
Piss-poor Perry is supposed to have said: “We know that Healthy School Streets make streets safer for children and families and it’s great that these six schools have asked us to look into introducing them.”
Just a shame about the children at three schools on Melville Avenue, eh, Jase?
The surveys are a pretty banal box-ticking exercises: they ask for your name and address, and whether you agree or not, and that’s just about it. They close today, and can be viewed on the council’s consultation page by clicking here.
Read more: School street scheme scrapped on road next to Mayor’s home
Read more: Council boss admits road fine ANPR cameras not switched on
Read more: Fining car drivers is not fine with pro-pollution Mayor Perry
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