Enfield joins a global push towards a car-free day
- World Car Free Day takes place on 22 September
- Enfield schools, students and staff commit to leaving cars at home
- TfL’s STARS project is also supporting the initiative across London
Families across Enfield are being asked to leave their cars at home and find alternative ways of getting into school in celebration of World Car Free Day (22 September).
World Car Free Day also coincides with Transport for London’s accreditation scheme for schools and nurseries known as STARS (Sustainable Travel: Active, Responsible, Safe) which is celebrating its tenth year by running a London-wide car free day.
There are more than 100 schools across London signed up to take part in the STARS Car Free Day, also on 22nd September.
Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Daniel Anderson, said: “I would encourage schools across Enfield to be part of this global movement to encourage safe and active travel.
“We want to promote active, sustainable and independent travel for all – from school children, to their parents and guardians, to the staff in schools. As well as reducing the use of cars across Enfield, we want to improve the air quality across the Borough while encouraging increased awareness and improving road safety.
"What a fantastic sight it would be if on 22nd September we were to see all our school children walking, cycling, scooting or taking public transport to school.”
Eight schools have already signed up and pledged to support the day – praise goes to Chesterfield Primary, Cuckoo Hall Academy, Eastfield Primary, Keble Prep, Keys Meadow, Raglan Infants, Raglan Junior and De Bohun Primary schools.
Seven of these schools have taken part in a STARS Car Free Day Assembly to promote walking, cycling, scooting, public transport and 'Park and Stride' to pupils and staff, as well as ensuring the whole school community is aware of travelling to school safely on the day.
Eastfield Primary School will be hosting a whole-school competition to see how many children travel to school without a car on this day. The Junior Travel Ambassadors, with the help of staff at Cuckoo Hall Academy, will be patrolling to ensure there is no illegal parking taking place outside the school gates. Pupils that use alternative means to get to school will receive a special gold coin and a road safety ruler to congratulate them for travelling sustainably.
Motor vehicles are the single biggest source of atmospheric pollution, contributing an estimated 14% of the world's carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel burning*. By leaving the car at home for the school-run, participants could make a huge difference to Enfield's air quality, which would help towards the Council’s vision to develop strong communities with safer, cleaner and more attractive neighbourhoods. Enfield Council’s £42 million Cycle Enfield network, funded by the Mayor of London and Transport for London, will also help to promote more active forms of travel, which will in turn improve our health and transform and improve the look and feel of our high streets and town centres.
To find out more on how to get involved, contact Enfield Council’s School Travel Team . More information on STARS car-free day can be found here . In addition, follow us on Twitter @EnfieldCouncil and on Facebook where we will be promoting World Car Free Day throughout 22 September.
*Source - www.worldcarfree.net
Article reproduced from the Enfield Council website.