Since 2004, the County Council’s School Travel Plan Team has helped 167 schools (86% of those in East Sussex) complete their school travel plans. The total grant money awarded so far is £954,790. These grants are jointly funded by the Department for Transport and the Department for Children, Schools and Families
The County Council is continuing to work with those schools remaining without a school travel plan to guide and support them through the process of writing the plan and receiving a grant.
This grant needs to be spent on on-site measures to achieve the targets and objectives the school sets itself in the plan, eg increasing the number of pupils, teachers and parents walking, cycling, or car-sharing.
Schools are spending their funding on a variety of projects, but most popular are cycle shelters, parent waiting shelters, and safety enhancements on the school site such as new pavements and speed humps.
Councillor Matthew Lock, Lead Member for Transport said, "I am very pleased to see that the funding coming into East Sussex through school travel plans is nearing a million. We can all see that there is less traffic on the road because our schools are on holiday. Travel plans also play a part in reducing the amount of cars that are on the roads in the morning and afternoon rush hours. By encouraging walking and cycling we can help children and grown-ups alike to be good to the environment and live healthier lifestyles."
Further information on school travel plans and walking buses, including activities and challenges for schools, is available in our school transport section.
Notes to editors
A School Travel Plan (STP) is a living document, produced by the whole school community in consultation with the wider community, which sets out a school's proposed measures to improve 'school run' sustainability, safety and health.
Schools completing a School Travel Plan (STP) to nationally agreed criteria receive a Government grant.
These (one-off) grants, jointly funded by the Department for Transport and the Department for Children, Schools and Families, amount to £3,750 plus £5 per pupil on roll for primary schools, and £5,000 plus £5 per pupil for secondary and special schools.
The grants started in 2004 and run until 2010 (inclusive). There is a national target for every school to have an STP in place by 2010.
Reference:
2080
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