EAST Dunbartonshire Council is to introduce  a traffic-free schools pilot scheme.

Councillors have backed proposals to launch the scheme after two-thirds of respondents in a consultation expressed support.

Three locations have been selected – Clober Primary School in Milngavie,  Craighead Primary School in Milton of Campsie and the shared St Matthew’s/Wester Cleddens Primary School campus in Bishopbriggs.

The scheme will involve roads at each site being closed to traffic between 8.30 and 9.15am and 2.30-3.15pm on Monday to Friday during term time.

Exceptions will be made for permit holders, emergency workers and health visitors, school buses and contract taxis, blue badge holders, postal and delivery vehicles and council vehicles such as bin lorries.

Anyone violating these restrictions will be committing an offence and eligible for a £50 police fine.

Existing parking restrictions will remain unaffected while residents and local businesses will automatically receive one vehicle permit per property with the option to apply for more, free of charge.

A council report states that the plan has been warmly welcomed by the schools involved and also police.

The experiment is intended to run throughout the 2023/2024 school year, beginning immediately after the summer holidays.