Thousands of pupils across the Caerphilly county borough are putting their best foot forward to get active and help cut congestion outside the school gates.
It is estimated that around 6,500 pupils walk to school each day across the county borough and the recent events held during ‘Walk to School Week’ helped highlight the many benefits of leaving the car at home.
Caerphilly county borough council is keen to encourage as many youngsters as possible to walk to school and many schemes are helping to get more and more pupils involved.
A number of schools have developed ‘Walking Buses’ where pupils travel to and from school in supervised groups. The initiative has really taken off over recent years and many parents welcome the opportunity to see their children escorted to school in a safe, organised group with their friends.
Most schools across the area have also developed School Travel Plans which set out ways of developing safe routes to school from surrounding towns and villages. A lot of investment has been provided for new walking routes, cycle paths and other measures to help create safe routes in the community.
Cabinet member Cllr Rob Gough visited Markham Primary School recently to see a Walking Bus in action. “These initiatives are an excellent way to help reduce the number of cars on our roads doing the daily school run. As well as helping to cut congestion and reduce pollution, the schemes also encourage pupils to lead a healthier lifestyle by allowing them to enjoy a daily walk in the fresh air with their friends.”
For more information please contact Susan Davies, School Travel Plan Co-ordinator on 01495 235402.
