Tackling the School Run
Tuesday, December 5 2006
Youngsters at twelve schools across the Borders are eagerly awaiting the installation of new cycle racks thanks to a recent successful application made by Scottish Borders Council (SBC) to the Scottish Executive.
Philippa Davison, Sustrans Safer Routes to Schools Manager, said: "The funding from the Scottish Executive means that more children will be able to travel to school in active ways that benefit their health and the environment. The money will be used to build more safe routes to school and to install cycle parking facilities".
Jenny Bagnall Scottish Borders Council’s School Travel Co-ordinator who helped to co-ordinate the applications for funding commented, "We are delighted that Scottish Borders Council has been successful in securing these funds which will directly benefit so many local schools".
In addition to the cycle racks, Scottish Borders Council has been successful in securing funding to help investigate walking and cycling links at three Secondary Schools in the Borders. The successful schools are Eyemouth, Hawick and Peebles.
Councillor Gordon Edgar, Portfolio Holder for Technical Services at Scottish Borders Council said "This additional funding can help us support schools in their efforts to encourage healthy and sustainable travel to school".
NOTES TO EDITOR
- Sustrans is the UK's leading sustainable transport charity. It's vision is a world in which people choose to travel in ways that benefit their health and the environment. It is achieving this through innovative but practical solutions to the UK’s transport challenges.
- Sustrans is the charity behind the National Cycle Network, Safe Routes to Schools and many other projects that deliver lasting changes in people’s travel behaviour.
- Safe Routes to Schools was developed to encourage more people to walk and cycle to school in safety; to improve road safety and reduce child casualties; to improve children's health and development; and to reduce traffic congestion and pollution.
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