A scheme designed to make it safer for Solihull students to travel to and from school is now being proposed for expansion after being labelled a big success.

The School Streets scheme sees roads closed to all traffic outside primary schools during pick-up and drop-off times.

Signs are put in place to indicate the start of the restricted zone and only residents of the street with permits and blue badge holders are allowed access.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council uses a traffic regulation order for its scheme which prohibit vehicles from entering a specified area at:

• Cranmore Infant School
• Haslucks Green Junior School
• Marston Green Infant Academy and Wayside
• Oak Cottage Primary School
• Olton Primary School
• Shirley Heath Junior School
• St Andrew's Primary School (Windrush Close)
• Valley Primary School
• Widney Junior School
• Windy Arbor Primary School

In a report ahead of the cabinet member for environment and infrastructure latest decision session, officers say: "These schemes have been delivered successfully over several years and provide a strong evidence base for future expansion.

"Evaluation of Solihull's first three School Streets schemes (Oak Cottage Primary School, Marston Green Infant Academy and Hasluck's Green Junior School) shows clear and consistent benefits.

"Monitoring data shows that car use for school journeys fell significantly at all schools, for example from 31 per cent to eight per cent at Oak Cottage and 57 per cent to 41 per cent at Marston Green."

Officers write that residents living near the schools had reported less inconsiderate parking, support for the schemes had strengthened after implementation and parents also reported safer and more pleasant journeys.

The cabinet member, Cllr Ken Hawkins, is now being recommended to introduce a scheme at Coppice Primary School in Coppice Road.

Officers write that 70 per cent of pupils live within one mile of that school, the school supports the proposal and there are alternative parking locations within walking distance for parents and carers who have no option but to travel by car.

At a previous full council meeting Cllr Hawkins said: "Our schemes have been a success in encouraging safer, sustainable journeys to school; reduced parking pressures at school gates; improved air quality and overall created a safer environment for all road users – especially our younger and vulnerable ones."

The decision session is being held virtually on Thursday, July 9.