Safer cycling and walking to school for north pupils

Pupils at two Sutherland and two Caithness primary schools are to benefit from projects being delivered by The Highland Council through the Scottish Government’s Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets (CWSS) programme.

Members of The Highland Council’s Caithness and Sutherland Area Committee have given their approval for £39,965 CWSS funding for projects at Gledfield, Lochinver, Castletown and Canisbay Primaries.

Vehicle Activated Signs depicting a vehicles speed and either a smiley or sad face will be going up on the road between Ardgay and Gledfield Primary in a move to improve the safety for pupils using the walking and cycling link to and from school.

Lochinver pupils are to benefit from having an improved footpath to their school with a £15,000 project to widen and resurface the route.  This work will be linked in with improvement work proposed by Community Services.

A new roofed cycle storage shelter at Castletown Primary will accommodate up to 20 bikes while pupils at Canisby Primary will also benefit from a bespoke cycle shelter for up to 10 bikes.

The aims of the projects are to improve pupil and parent/carer safety while walking and cycling to and from school and encouraging active travel. The projects are identified by the Highland Council’s Road Safety Unity working with schools to help them produce School Travel Plans that meet their individual requirements.

Leader of the Caithness and Sutherland Area Committee Councillor Deirdre Mackay said: “While work is done to try to reduce road accidents, we can also encourage healthy living and active lifestyles by assisting school pupils to walk and cycle to and from school safely. Active travel is a healthy habit that will set them in good stead for the rest of their lives. I am sure all four projects will make a significant difference to safety and encourage more young people to walk and cycle.”