Crescent Road School Streets

The Crescent Road School Streets Marshal Volunteer Co-ordinator writes to us:

Three schools on Crescent Road - Alfred Sutton Primary, UTC and Maiden Erlegh Reading - in conjunction with Reading Borough Council have introduced a road closure scheme to create healthier, safer routes to school for their pupils. Since 28th February 2022, Crescent Road from Wokingham Road to the Bulmershe Road junction is now closed for 45 minutes in the morning, 08:15 - 09:00, Monday to Friday, term time only. The morning closures appear to be have positive effect in terms of cutting traffic volumes, reducing emissions and improving air pollution levels. A survey by Reading University will provide further evidence of the impact of this trial on air pollution.

Meanwhile, we are keen to improve the environment for local school children even further, by closing the road in the afternoons. However, two Street Marshal volunteers are needed to close the street at each end. Therefore, there is now a campaign to recruit more volunteers to close Crescent Road in the afternoons, between 14:45 - 15:30, Monday to Friday, during term time.

I wish to encourage 1 - 4 environmental group members to volunteer in the afternoons, or possibly in the mornings to release existing volunteers to help in the afternoons instead. Training is offered via an online course, PPE is available and the schools provide the closure equipment.

Are there any Earley Environmental Group members who would like to volunteer as a Street Marshal, once or twice per week, afternoons (or mornings) during term time?
Benefits for environment group members include:

• Help to lower traffic and air pollution to create healthy journeys to school for the local school children
• Improve personal health and well-being by undertaking a regular outdoor activity
• Meet like minded, environmentally focused people

Anyone is welcome to come and speak to volunteers during the morning closure, any day of the week to find out about the trial.