Telford primary school launches new travel plan
A Telford school has introduced a new travel plan in a bid to minimise traffic and discourage illegal parking.
The new state of the art Woodlands Primary School has introduced the travel plan which also aims to help children and parents get to school safely while keeping fit and active.
Two “park and stride” sites have been set up at the Park Lane Multi Use Centre and Mound Way on nearby Woodside which provide parents with ample car parking spaces near to the school gates.
These were introduced before the school moved to its new site and have proved to be popular among parents and carers and have therefore remained as the main parking provision for the new site.
Belinda Offland, the school’s chair of governors for Woodlands Primary School, said: “We have over 45 children who get to school on our walking bus and lots of parents who are taking advantage of our convenient park and stride sites.
“We recognise that there may be some parents or carers who do need to gain closer access to the site. With this in mind, we will continue to grant access to the small on site car park for Blue Badge holders, or for those who contact the school to notify us of their requirements to gain a parking permit.”
The school has issued letters and a school newsletter to inform parents of the variety of parking and walking initiatives set up to ensure that all children get to school safely. A breakfast club is also available at Woodlands Primary School so that parents can beat the school rush and drop their children off early.
John Demmerling, head teacher at Woodlands Primary School, said: “Our new school is absolutely fantastic and has enhanced the learning environment for both our pupils and staff.
“With any new school it takes a little time to settle in but the pupils especially have made a smooth transition and are enjoying learning in their new school.
“Parking directly on the site is limited but our park and stride scheme provides more than enough parking spaces for staff and parents; who can choose to walk their children the short distance to the school gates, or drop them off to join our supervised walking bus.
“A handful of parents continue to try and park on site to drop children off which we continue to discourage. Large amounts of traffic close to school gates can be dangerous and it also prevents visitors with disabilities accessing out site.”
