These six Leeds schools will be trialing social distancing experiment with streets closed to traffic

Plans from Leeds City Council will see roads around the schools closed off with cones and signs and would be staffed to allow exempt vehicles to pass, such as those of local residents.

It is hoped that this will make social distancing easier for parents taking their children to school, as whole streets would effectively be pedestrianised.

The schools chosen for the scheme are: Ingram Road Primary School, Holbeck; Clapgate Primary, Middleton; Lane End Primary, Beeston; Thorpe Primary in Thorpe; Primrose Hill Primary in Pudsey and Crossgates Primary School, Cross Gates.

It is expected that, upon the schools’ reopening, the closure periods will be 45 minutes in the morning and one hour in the afternoon, with typical closure times being 8.30am–9.15am and 2.45pm–3.45pm.

A report by council officers claims the pilot scheme is intended to be rolled out to other schools, which could mean further street closures if successful.

It added: “These schools have been chosen due to previous work having been carried out to establish the ability to implement road closures through Play Streets and other assessment work. It is expected that a large number of other schools will be able to also implement School Streets but these sites will be established at a later date and funding will be required from central government to support a wider rollout.

“The schools have been identified as being in locations that are quick wins in relation to being able to support such street closures as they have previously taken part in Play Streets or have local support and will provide a model that can be rolled out across other schools in Leeds.

“School Streets require the full support of the headteacher to be introduced. Additional schools will be subject to further approvals to be funded from the central government funds to support COVID-19 interventions.”

It is not known exactly when the measures will be introduced, as Leeds City Council have told schools to make individual decisions on when to reopen, due to differing levels of public safety.

It follows Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement that schools could reopen, for certain year groups, from June 1 at the earliest.

The planned street closures will be in place from Monday to Friday once schools reopen. The roads will, however, be open to permit holders:

Clapgate Primary School, Middleton – 8.30am-9.10am and 3pm-3.40pm

The whole of Cranmore Drive.

Rylands Road from Rylands Way to Cranmore Drive.

Ingram Primary School, Holbeck – 8.10am-9.50am and 2.10pm-3.50pm

Crosby Street from Shafton View to Ingram Road.

Brown Lane East from Shafton View to western end.

Rydall Place from Crosby Street to Brown Lane East.

Rydall Terrace from Crosby Street to Brown Lane East.

Rydall Street from Crosy Street to Brown Lane East.

The whole of Colenso Gardens.

Lane End Primary School, Beeston – 8.25am-9.50am and 1.40pm-3.50pm

Beeston Road from Hunslet Hall Road to its northern end.

The whole of Lane End Place.

Thorpe Primary School, Thorpe – 8.40am-9.50am and 2.10pm-3.20pm

Dolphin Lane from Lingwell Gate Lane to Lynton Avenue.

The whole of Lynton Avenue.

The whole of Belmont Terrace.

The whole of Ashfield Terrace.

Cross Gates Primary School, Cross Gates – 8.25am-9.50am and 1.40pm-2.50pm

Maryfield Crescent from Maryfield Avenue to Poole Crescent.

The whole of Poole Mount.

Poole Crescent from northernmost junction with Poole Road to nouthernmost junction with Poole Mount.

Poole Road between its junctions with Poole Crescent.

Farm Road between its junctions with Poole Crescent.

Primrose Hill Primary School, Pudsey – 8.10am-9.20am and 2.40pm-3.50pm

The whole of Primrose Hill.