Crescent Road School Street
Transport

Crescent Road School Street set to introduce afternoon sessions in November

  • East Reading’s first school street set to extend to afternoons from 7 November
  • Appeal for more volunteer school street marshals

CRESCENT Road’s School Street is set to extend to include afternoons from Monday 7 November.

A partnership between the three local schools, Maiden Erlegh School in Reading, UTC Reading and Alfred Sutton Primary School, with support of a number of local resident volunteers, the Crescent Road School Street, between Wokingham Road and Bulmershe Road, is Reading’s fourth School Street.

Launched in February 2022, the Crescent Road School Street initially operated only in the mornings between 8.15 and 9am Monday to Friday school term time only, with the street open as usual in the afternoons. Now over eight months on, the popular scheme is set to also move to afternoons between 2.45 to 3.30pm (in accordance with the timings set out in the School Street Order).

Speaking on behalf of Maiden Erlegh School, UTC Reading and Alfred Sutton Primary School, Maiden Erlegh School Business Manager, Julie Foster, said: 

“We are delighted to announce our School Street will now extend to afternoon sessions. The morning sessions have proved very popular and successful. 

“We feel it has had a big impact on the safety of our students, parents and the local community.  We would like to say a big thank you to all those who have volunteered from the local community and look forward to continuing to work with them in the future.

“We would still like to attract more volunteer marshals to help out with the scheme, so please do get in touch if you could spare time – even signing up for just one shift will make a difference.”

Reading’s other School Streets are also making a real difference for children, staff and residents and were approved to be made permanent at the Council’s Traffic Management Sub Committee earlier this year.

The running of school streets in the borough is both led and organised by schools themselves, with support and guidance provided by the Council.

Tony Page, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport, said:  “I’m pleased to see Crescent Road School Street’s continued success has meant it can now extend to cover afternoons.

“School Streets not only make travel to schools safer but also create a healthier and more pleasant local environment for everyone living in the vicinity.

“Our other School Streets are already showing a positive impact for children, schools and the local community. Our School Streets at Park Lane and Thameside are now permanent, and I hope we can encourage even more schools across Reading to come forward with their own proposals.

“I wish the Crescent Road School Street every success for the afternoons.”

The consultation period on the initial Crescent Road School Street scheme was undertaken earlier this year and showed there was 67% support for the scheme.

School Street Volunteering

No experience is necessary to be a marshal and full training will be provided. Marshals can sign up for as many shifts as they want. The School Streets operate during term time only.

To find out more about the marshal role or to register your interest to volunteer, please email meroffice@maidenerleghtrust.org

The following schools are also looking for more marshals to help support School Streets in Reading.

  • Park Lane Junior School: 8.30 to 9am and 2.55 to 3.35pm, Monday to Friday
  • Wilson Primary: 8.20 to 9.05am and 2.35 to 3.20pm, Monday to Friday
  • Thameside Primary: 8.30 to 9.15am and 2.50 to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday

Contact the schools to register interest:

School Streets create a safer and healthier environment for everyone, including local residents. The initiative is part of the Council’s wider ambitions for encouraging more active travel, such as cycling and walking, and as a result support better physical and mental health, lower carbon generation and improved air quality.

Further applications are very welcome and information on Reading’s School Streets can be found on the Council’s dedicated School Streets webpage: www.reading.gov.uk/ReadingSchoolStreets