South Lanarkshire Council has launched trial car-free school zones at two primary schools in the area.

The scheme was implemented yesterday (April 19) at Burnside Primary School in Rutherglen and St Joseph’s Primary School in Blantyre and will be in operation between 8.30am to 9.15am and 2.30pm to 3.15pm. 

The streets where the zones will be in operation are Glenlui Avenue in Rutherglen for Burnside Primary and Park Lane and Ennisfree Road in Blantyre for St Joseph’s Primary.

READ MORE: Glasgow postman sacked after 26 years on beat in the city

Non-permit holders will not be allowed to enter the zone during these times and will need to make other arrangements. Any contravention of the zone will lead to a £50 fixed penalty notice fine, which will be enforced by Police Scotland. 

The car-free zones are initiatives where the streets outside a school are closed to traffic during opening and closing times. This helps achieve a safer and more pleasant environment for everyone using the streets as well as maintaining access for residents, businesses, pedestrians and cyclists. 

The initiative is supported by Sunstrans and the Scottish Government (Cycling, Walking and Safer Routes Scheme). 

The council aims to reduce the volume of traffic past school gates, improve air quality where there is a high concentration of children and encourage more pupils to walk or cycle to school with the scheme. 

The streets around school entrances will become a pedestrian and cycle zone before and after school hours with a few exempt vehicles being allowed through. There will be signs at the entrances to the zone to inform drivers. 

The zones will not be in operation during school holidays or at weekends, only for set periods before and after school hours. 

READ MORE: Case dropped against man accused of resisting arrest before a Celtic match

Parents who feel they need to drive their child to school will have to legally park nearby and walk the last leg of the journey. 

The council will work with school communities to identify and promote locations away from schools where parents can park, known as ‘park and stride’ sites.

For St Joseph’s Primary School, the council has reached an agreement with the nearby Asda for parents to use its car park for park and stride.

For Burnside Primary, the council has an agreement with Tesco to allow parents to use the car park for park and stride. 

There will be exceptions for residents living within the scheme who will be able to apply for the exemption for up to two vehicles registered at their address – any additional permits will cost £10. Blue badge holders will be able to apply for an exemption too.

School staff will be encouraged to arrive at the schools before the zone time starts, where this is not possible, exemptions may be granted.

The scheme will begin as a trial by an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order which is a legal process imposing traffic and parking restrictions on roads for a span of up to 18 months.

During this period, each scheme will be reviewed and if successful it will be made permanent by the introduction of a permanent Traffic Management/Regulation Order.

The council undertook a consultation for three trial schemes, for Burnside Primary School in Rutherglen, St Anthony’s Primary School in Rutherglen and St Joseph’s Primary School in Blantyre. 

Support was lacking for the scheme to be imposed at Lochaber Drive at St Anthony’s Primary therefore the school was dropped out of the scheme.