Hard working schools in partnership with the Council have implemented plans to reduce congestion, improve road safety and encourage walking to school.

All 88 schools in Waltham Forest successfully introduced their travel plans, one year ahead of the government targets.Waltham Forest Council’s School Travel Planning Team hosted a celebration event at the SCORE centre to mark the achievement and identify and reward schools with particularly good plans.The event was attended by schools’ representatives, senior councillors and council officers. 

 Performers ranging from clowns to jugglers and trick cyclists kept everyone entertained.

Over the past 20 years the number of children travelling to school by car has almost doubled and account for at least one in five cars on London’s roads between 8-9am and 3-4pm during term time.The Council also wants to encourage young people to socialise with their friends and get some exercise on the way to school as well as cut congestion and car use.In the last year there has been a 4.9 per cent drop in the number of pupils who travel to school by car.

The aims of the school’s travelplans are to:

•  Reduce traffic congestionaround schools and encourage people not to use cars on the school run
•  Increase the number of children walking, cycling andusing public transport while travelling to and from school
• Raise awareness of road safety and the health and environmental benefits of using alternative transport for the journey to and from school

The Residents Petition asking for a new and safer Pedestrian Crossing, near the busy junction of Sinnot Road/Billet Road is now in full swing, and will continue over the summer holidays.

We are hoping to top 600 signatures or even raise the bar higher, as response as been total support for a new Billet Road pedestrian Crossing nr Nos 303/305 Billet Rd ~slow chevron.

It is alarming that many residents have reported feeling unsafe and accidents along Billet Road near this busy junction. We will keep you posted.

If you want the job done well, it’s the Lib Dems that get it done

New figures show a significant reduction in the number of people killed orseriously injured on roads in Waltham Forest over the past eight years.

The statistics show that serious casualties and deaths dropped from 199 to 92between 2000 and 2007.

 Waltham Forest Council says tougher enforcement of road laws, new traffic calming schemes and road safety training for cyclists and school children all contributed to the reduction.

Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Bob Belam, said: “I am very pleased with the reduction in deaths and injuries on our roads but we’re not complacent and we know that there is still more work to be done to reduce casualties further.”