In recent months, Chirnside Primary School has been taking part in a School Travel Plan project. The travel plan aims to improve road safety on the school journey; improve pedestrian safety in and around the school; encourage alternative modes of travel to the car and improve the local environment by reducing pollution, congestion and road danger.
The school safety team, which meets regularly to take the project forward, consists of representatives from the local community council, teachers, staff, parents, road safety/engineering staff from Scottish Borders Council and Lothian and Borders Police Road Safety Unit. It is supported by Councillor Fullarton the elected member for Chirnside and District.
Parents at the school were surveyed in April this year, to establish how children currently travel to and from school. 73% of parents responded to the survey. Currently 48% of children walk to school, 35% are driven and 17% get the school bus. When asked their preferences, 56% of parents opted for walking, 18% prefer the school bus, 16% wish to use the car, 5% would let their children cycle to school and 5% would choose public transport. Jenny Bagnall, the council's School Travel Co-ordinator, who is co-ordinating the development of the school travel plan said "The survey results highlight a potential to increase walking at Chirnside Primary School by up to 8% and reduce car use by up to 19%. This is really positive and the School Safety Team can now take a look at what can be done to encourage a change in travel habits."
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The survey also gave parents the opportunity to highlight their areas of concern on the journey to school. Top of the list was crossing the Crosshill, followed by speeding and dog fouling on the path networks leading to the school. At the last travel plan meeting, the School Safety Team discussed measures to improve the situation. It is hoped that speed-activated signs on the A6105 outside the front of the school will reduce the speed of the traffic and a proposal for a flat-topped speed hump on the Crosshill which would help to reduce the speed of traffic and offer children a safer place to cross, is to go out to consultation.
To support the travel plan work at the school, pupils at the school were encouraged to participate in National Walk to School Week 4th - 8th October. Headteacher Pat Nicholson commented "Although many of our parents and children already walk to school, the surveys show that more would like to. Walk to School Week provided them the perfect opportunity."
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