Parents and pupils demand streets for kids as would-be-councillors witness school run dangers in Brixton

Councillor candidates in Brixton were given a firsthand look at the daily dangers faced by pupils outside St Jude’s C of E Primary School, as children led a guided “Show & Tell” tour highlighting the risks of their journey to school.

The event, organised by local parent network Solve The School Run, saw youngsters point out problem spots along the route. “We made some posters to stop cars parking on the yellow zigzags, where lots of cars stop which makes it difficult to see when I’m crossing the road,” said Evie, in year 2.

Sacha Manson-Smith, a parent at the school said the current situation leaves families feeling anxious each morning, adding: “As well as the danger of my 7yo daughter being hit by a car outside school, I worry about the air pollution around the school at drop-off and pick-up times – there are always a lot of big cars very close to a lot of young children, and the air pollution can damage their lungs.”

Councillor candidates for Herne Hill and Loughborough Junction ward were invited by families to witness the challenges children face. Green candidates Alan Andrews and Paul Valentine came on the visit, and they observed double parking, heavy traffic and experienced the poor air quality at the school gates.

St Jude’s is one of ten Lambeth primary schools without a “school street” – a scheme that restricts motor traffic outside schools at drop-off and pick-up times to improve safety and air quality.

The school has been promised a school street for the next academic year by Rezina Chowdhury, Lambeth Council’s lead for sustainability and clean air. However, with the upcoming local council elections on May 7th, school families say they are keen for all the political candidates to come and witness the issues for themselves, prompting the event.

Alan Andrews, Green party candidate for the ward, said “Lambeth Greens believe every child should have a safe journey to school. We know that St Jude’s primary is one of ten Lambeth schools that doesn’t have a school street currently. We will do everything we can to ensure one is implemented this year.”

The Brixton event is one of many Streets for Kids events taking place across London in the run-up to the local elections, coordinated by Solve The School Run, a grassroots network of parents campaigning for safer school journeys. In addition to these events there are similar Streets for Kids events taking place across Europe, highlighting how dangerous it is for children on our roads.

Solve The School Run, and transport charity Clean Cities, is calling on election candidates to back three measures that will improve the school run for everyone: introducing a school street for every school, improving access to cargo bikes for families, and creating a child-friendly kerbside to improve safety and discourage large vehicles.

Figures show that more than 400 children in London are injured each year while travelling to or from school. Campaigners say this highlights the urgent need for change.

Nicola Pastore, co-founder of Solve The School Run, said: “We analysed TfL’s injury data and found that 443 children each year are injured in the hour before and after school, by motor vehicles. We think this is unacceptable and needs to change. Our children need safer streets.”

Caz Conneller, campaign manager at Clean Cities, added: “Children should be able to walk, cycle and scoot to school without breathing in toxic air or navigating dangerous roads. This is not just a London issue – it’s happening across cities in the UK and Europe. Getting to school safely should be a right.”

Research shows that children are exposed to up to five times more air pollution on the school run than at any other time. School streets reduce traffic around the school by 8% and air polluting gases by 23%. With less cars driving to the school, there is less dangerous parking, idling and other behaviours that make the whole environment stressful and unhealthy for families.