Pupils can walk and win

PARKING problems . . . outside Bare Trees Primary School

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CHILDREN at a Chadderton school will be rewarded for walking to school in a bid to combat parking problems.

Under the initiative, schoolchildren will be given badges for walking to school in efforts to limit ongoing parking issues at the site. Bare Trees Primary School, in Holly Grove, is trialling the road safety scheme for 12 months.

The idea has been introduced 10 months after an article published by the Chronicle discouraged irresponsible and dangerous parking on pavements near schools.

Last December, Oldham Council called on motorists to consider the safety of children on their way to school.

Parking became so dangerous outside Bare Trees that residents launched a petition calling for parking restrictions in the surrounding area.

Eco co-ordinator and teacher Charlotte Squibbs said: "We were voted as one of the worst, if not the worst, school in Oldham for parking problems.

"Road Safety approached us at the end of July to trial the scheme.

"We jumped at the opportunity because as a school we want to address the issues with parking and parents not walking to school.

"We want to see less cars outside.

"We have a lot of parents taking children to additional schools so they drive here.

"But the majority live within walking distance and still bring their cars.

"We have a lay-by but parents tend to park on the kerb in places where they should not park."

Children will be encouraged to walk to school up to three times each week, a minimum of 12 times each month.

They will be rewarded with a badge for completing each month's goals, with 11 badges up for grabs across the year.

Each morning pupils will make a selection on the interactive whiteboards stating how they have travelled that day.

Charlotte said: "The options involving the most walking, such as getting off the bus and walking, using a scooter, walking and cycling, will all count towards their points for the badge.

"We have a merit system with badges which works really well and the children love getting badges.

"We have set a base line so we know how the situation improves over the year but we envisage that it will be a big success."