Scottish Government

This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007

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Promoting safe and healthy travel for schools

18/02/2003

Funding for new School Travel Co-ordinators who will promote safe and healthy travel for school children was announced today.

The creation of the new positions is one of the recommendations of a report published today by the Scottish School Travel Advisory Group which was set up to look at how to promote efficient, environmentally friendly ways of getting to and from school.

Deputy Transport Minister Lewis Macdonald made the announcement during a visit today to Oakbank Primary School in Perth where he saw how the school has been promoting environmentally friendly choices including safe and healthy travel to and from school.

The Minister said:

"I am pleased today that we are able to announce this funding for School Travel Co-ordinators who will work with their local schools to find the best ways of promoting safe and healthy travel. We want to promote alternatives to the car run, improve safety at school gates by cutting down on traffic and encourage more healthy lifestyles to benefit all Scotland's primary school children."

The co-ordinators will work through their local authority in partnership with schools in their area, working with teachers and pupils to promote the health and environmental benefits of alternative travel choices.

Mr Macdonald added:

"Today's report provides sound advice about non-car based travel to school for anyone developing school travel plans. It will be welcomed by everyone with an interest in school travel or reducing congestion, as well as those promoting sustainable, physically active and environmentally friendly travel."

Co-ordinators will work across local authority departments to provide facilities and co-ordinate the work of school travel teams, who will produce their school's travel plan. School travel co-ordinators will also promote best practice within schools and advise councils on spending CWSS (Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets) funding for useful projects.

The Scottish School Travel Advisory Group was established by the Scottish Executive in July 2000 and made 20 recommendations about increasing the proportion of non-car based travel to school. Its membership is representative of a wide area of expertise in health, education and transport. The report can be viewed on the Scottish Executive website at www.scotland.gov.uk

Research has shown that across the UK one in five cars on the road at 0850 hours is taking children to school. The 1999 Scottish Household Survey revealed that 23% of primary school age children and 12% of secondary school age children travel to school by car or van in Scotland. Half of these live within a short distance of school - 1km in the case of primary age children and 2km in the case of secondary age children - while for a fifth the journey is feasible by public transport.

The new posts will begin in July. The posts will be full or part time. Funding for the new school travel co-ordinator posts is allocated as follows:

(* figures rounded to the nearest £100)}

(** figures rounded to the nearest £1,000)