One-day road closure trial aims to make the school run safer and healthier
CAWNPORE Street in Cogan was closed to traffic in a one-day trial aimed at creating a safer and calmer environment for pupils on the Cogan Primary School run.
Organised by Sustrans Cymru and Vale of Glamorgan Council, the School Street closure on Thursday (March 27) ran from 8am to 9.15am and again from 2.30pm to 4.30pm restricting vehicle access.
The aim was to encourage walking, cycling and scooting while cutting emissions at the school gates.
Headteacher Susan Sibert said the trial had been “very successful”.
“The street can be quite busy in the morning and a bit unsafe at times, so this made a real difference,” she said.
“The atmosphere was calmer, and I’ve only had positive comments from parents. A lot of children walked, cycled or scooted, which we always try to encourage for health reasons.”
LEFT: Headteacher Susan Sibert. Credit: Cogan Primary School.
Dylan Boocock, project manager at Sustrans Cymru, supported the closure.
“The most important thing is kids’ safety,” he said. “Today, it was great — kids were out on the street playing football. The reaction has been wholly positive from residents on the street.
“This is a one-day trial as part of a programme we hope to roll out more widely next year if successful.”
The closure is part of the Vale’s wider Safe Routes in Communities programme, funded by the Welsh Government, which aims to support safer, low-carbon journeys to school.
Similar schemes have been piloted across the county, including at Fairfield Primary School in Penarth, where a School Street on Dryden Road has now been made permanent following an 18-month trial.
Cllr Mark Wilson, the Vale’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood and Building Services, has said it was “vital to improve air quality in the area and make it a safer environment for parents and children to walk to the school”.
LEFT: Before and after the introduction of a School Street outside Fairfield Primary School. Credit: Vale of Glamorgan.
Resident Elen Robert, who lives on Cawnpore Street, said the trial hadn’t caused any disruption.
“We were given a letter allowing resident access, so it didn’t impact me much,” she said.
“If anything, it was less busy. I think it’s really great to be trying things like this — it’s important that children have safer routes to school.
“As a mum, I remember how stressful it was keeping my son safe when he was young. They don’t always understand the dangers of traffic. I can’t really see any downside.”
The council and Sustrans monitor roads surrounding School Streets closely to check that traffic problems haven’t been shifted elsewhere and, in Fairfield’s case, no significant issues were reported.
“It’s important to try these things,” said headteacher Mrs Sibert. “It fits with what we teach about the environment and healthy living. Even small changes — like walking or cycling a bit further — make a difference.”
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Feedback from residents, parents and staff is now being gathered to assess the trial’s impact. If positive, the council may consider a more permanent School Street at Cogan Primary, with more schemes expected to follow across the Vale later in the year.
- Residents interested in helping future closures as volunteer stewards can email Sustrans at sustranscymru@sustrans.org.uk
