ROADS around the new Netherthird Primary School are to be closed to vehicles at the start and end of the school day in a trial scheme later this year.

During the restricted periods - weekdays at school opening and closing times - only permit holders, blue badge holders, school transport vehicles (including contracted taxis) and exempted vehicles will be able to drive on the affected roads.

The scheme is part of the School Streets initiative, which is already in operation at other primary schools in East Ayrshire, and which aims to improve road safety and encourage 'active travel' to and from school, such as walking and cycling.

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The Netherthird trial will begin on October 27, with the roads around the school being closed from 8.40am to 9.05am and again from 2.45pm to 3.15pm during the school term.

Building work on the new school started last September and is due to be completed this month. 

The new facility is currently scheduled to open its doors to pupils after the week-long October holiday.

Netherthird pupils are currently being taught at the old Greenmill Primary in Cumnock.

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Residents in the streets affected will be classified as 'permit holders' and will be issued with two free permits per household for their vehicles so that they can access their property at any time of day.

The initiative has been made a permanent fixture at Catrine Primary and at St Sophia's Primary in Galston after successful intial trial periods.

For parents of children at Netherthird Primary who normally drive to school, East Ayrshire Council says that the Netherthird Community Centre car park can be used as a 'park and stride' facility, with parents and their children able to walk the short distance between the car park and the school.

The council says that traffic patterns will be monitored during the trial and then, in December, questionnaires will be posted to residents, circulated to all parents and carers through the school app, and promoted to the wider community via the community council, ward members and social media channels. 

The trial will last until at least the February mid-term holiday and the results of the monitoring will be used to decide the future of the scheme.

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Councillor Neal Ingram, East Ayrshire Council's cabinet member for community safety, roads and transportation, said: “We are very pleased to be rolling the School Streets initiative out to our third school in East Ayrshire due to the success of our first ever schemes in Catrine and Galston.

"Ultimately, we want to do all that we can to increase the safety of vulnerable road users, and in particular younger children, when they are travelling to and from school.

"School Streets are also a fantastic way of encouraging more active ways of travelling, such as walking, cycling or scooting, which make the school journey healthier as well as safer.”