Louise Haigh MP for Sheffield Heeley visited Pipworth Community Primary School to launch a new School Street – a scheme designed to create safer and healthier environments for children and families.

The School Street initiative involves temporarily closing roads outside the school during drop-off and pick-up times. From Monday to Friday during term time, Pipworth Road will be closed to vehicular traffic from its junction at the A6102/Prince of Wales Road to its junction with Saxonlea Drive. The closure aims to improve safety for parents and children, reduce congestion, and promote cleaner air around the school gates.

During the visit, Louise Haigh MP met with pupils, parents, and staff to hear about the benefits of the scheme. She praised the project for helping to make walking and cycling to school safer and easier, while also tackling air pollution – a key concern for many local families.

The Council has created a £1 million Clean Air Investment Fund, using income from the Clean Air Zone to support projects that promote safer, greener travel. This includes funding for the rollout of further School Street schemes across the city, part-time 20mph zones outside schools, and support programmes to help children and families make the shift to walking and cycling. The aim is to reduce harmful emissions and promote healthier, safer journeys to and from school

Speaking after the visit, Louise Haigh MP for Sheffield Heeley said:

“It was fantastic to be at Pipworth Community Primary School and see this scheme in action. I’ve spoken with parents across Sheffield who’ve told me how School Streets have made the school run safer and less stressful. Seeing it at Pipworth Community School today, it’s clear how much of a difference it makes – easing congestion, giving kids more space, and making the area around the school safer for everyone.

“I’ve also seen how well this has worked at other local schools, and it’s brilliant to see Pipworth Community joining the scheme. I’m really pleased that Sheffield City Council is investing in more School Streets, and I hope even more schools can benefit in the future.”