Banking on safer school runs in Epsom

The school run at The Vale Primary School in Epsom is set to become safer, thanks to a £2,000 road safety grant from vehicle manufacturer Toyota.

The primary school, which is a member of GLF Schools, received the grant from the Toyota Fund for a Better Tomorrow.

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The Vale’s co-headteacher, Cathy Browne, said: “The grant was for promoting road safety across the school and within the local community.

“The school is located at the top of a village with only one way in and out, and there have been some near-miss accidents with both children and local residents.

“Parents and residents have also made complaints about poor parking, engines left running, and people driving too fast near the school.

“We want to promote and encourage sustainable travel and healthy lifestyles through walking and cycling, reduce congestion, and develop children’s’ skills for independent and safe travel.”

She continued: “We plan to introduce road safety signs, cones and banners in the village and outside school to support local residents by promoting safe travel, reducing speed, stopping parents leaving engines idling, and encouraging more mindful parking – as well as making it a safer and cleaner environment for our better informed pupils.

“The grant is £2,000 to spend on the above project, so will pay for signage and markings, and support costs towards road safety courses such as Bikeability.”

The Toyota Fund for a Better Tomorrow was set up in 2011 to help charities, schools and community projects in the Surrey area, and has since supported over 650 projects and provided over £1,100,000 in funding.

“To be eligible, we needed to be a community-based project local to the Epsom Toyota offices,” said Mrs Browne.

“We had to demonstrate the positive and durable impact on the community, and how all stakeholders would be engaged in its delivery, as well as how it aligned to one of Toyota’s strategic foci – sustainable and safe travel.”

A ceremonial cheque was presented to Mrs Browne and fellow co-headteacher Sarah Leyland by Alice Hood and John Ryan from Toyota’s Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Affairs Department, in a visit to The Vale.

“I am delighted that the PTA have secured this funding to help us improve and develop our route to school and site, and support the development of our pupils’ skills,” added Mrs Browne.

“We will work now with the PTA, pupils, local village hall committee, and local pre-school to plan the product purchases and their optimum placing, as well as plan the series of pupil courses we can offer in school.

“We want to ensure road safety for everyone travelling to and from school, and for local residents.”