Ten South Lanarkshire schools could become car-free zones

Ten schools across South Lanarkshire have been identified as potential beneficiaries of car-free zones.

The council are exploring the possibility of implementing the zones as part of their Priority Roads Safety Engineering Projects 2019/20.

Schools have been working with the council to introduce school travel plans to help pupils get to school safely and sustainably, which could be boosted by car-free zones.

The schools affected include Neilsland and St Peter’s Primaries in Hamilton, which could see Highstonehall Road free of cars.

Summerlee Road at Glengowan Primary in Larkhall has also been earmarked.

In Strathaven, Kirklandpark Primary/Kirkland Park Avenue and Strathaven Academy/Bowling Green Road are being considered, while St Joseph’s Primary/Park Lane, Blantyre and St John the Baptist Primary/North British Road, Uddingston, could also see zones created.

Gordon Mackay, head of roads and transportation at South Lanarkshire Council, said: “We have been working with a number of schools who have been developing school travel plans, which identify issues and devise potential solutions.”

“Where a school is located in a cul-de-sac, one consideration to resolve congestion, for example, is to introduce a car-free zone.

“The zones would both reduce congestion at the school and reduce the risk of pupils being involved in accidents in the vicinity of the school gate.”