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Ref 153/08 2 May 2008

Chester Pupils on the Road to Becoming Safer Pedestrians

Children from two Chester primary schools were helped to become safer independent pedestrians thanks to a free training initiative by Cheshire County Council.

Pupils from Dee Point in Blacon and St Clare’s in Lache were able to learn vital road safety skills by taking part in a ‘Let’s Walk’ training exercise.

Volunteers from both schools were equipped with the skills to lead a training session in a one-day course held by Cheshire’s Road Safety Unit.

This enabled the volunteer instructors to take Year 3 or Year 4 children out for hour-long practical road side training sessions.

The practical training will be reinforced back in the classroom with a variety of free resources which include booklets, bookmarks, maps and aerial photos, together with a teacher’s kit which is loaned to the school.

The scheme is overseen by the Road Safety Unit who ensure the route which children walk is as safe as possible.

Children’s Services Executive Member David Rowlands said: "Awareness of road safety is an essential part of teaching children to become safe, independent pedestrians, so that they can enjoy the health and environmental benefits of walking.

"By teaching children these vital skills, we hope this in turn will encourage parents to walk to school with their children and therefore reduce traffic and congestion at the school gate."

Senior Road Safety Officer Andrea Gray said: "Let's Walk is part of our Cheshire CAT Campaign. Although it is managed by the County Council’s Road Safety Unit we rely on volunteers to deliver this important training within the schools."

Any school which would like further information on this scheme is asked to contact Cheshire County Council’s Road Safety Unit on 01244 973601 or email roadsafety@cheshire.gov.uk

Photo 1 Caption: Children from Dee Point Primary School are joined by volunteer trainer, parent Mike Lyon, and Gill Shaw from Cheshire’s Road Safety Unit on their Let’s Walk training exercise

Photo 2 Caption: Pupils from St Clare’s Catholic Primary School take part in a Let’s Walk training day with teaching assistant and volunteer trainer Jackie Dowson (left) and Gill Shaw from Cheshire’s Road Safety Unit (right).

RN/KT

Notes to Editors: For further information please contact County Councillor Rowlands on 01244 300655 and Senior Road Safety Officer Andrea Gray on 01244 973717.