Local feedback has proved invaluable in helping to shape future road safety measures at schools across the borough, as part of a review into the way that children and young people travel to and from school.
Calderdale Council has been working with schools and communities to look at what needs to be in place at primary school across the borough to make travel safe and as active as possible.
Part of this review looked at the provision of school crossing patrols at Calderdale schools to ensure the right road safety measures are in the right place, and that limited budgets are targeted where they’ll have the most benefit.
The review identified that in some cases, crossing patrols were located outside schools where risk is low, or where another facility such as a pedestrian crossing is available or would be more effective. In other cases, school crossing patrols were not present in high-risk areas.
People were invited to have their say on the proposals for the future of the service, with the consultation including sessions with affected staff and headteachers. Parents and carers and other members of the school community were also encouraged to share their comments, concerns and suggestions about the proposals.
The feedback received has been carefully considered and as a result, changes have been made to proposals. School crossing patrols will now remain at a number of schools, where the proposal was previously to remove. These are:
- Bolton Brow Primary Academy – where the school community highlighted that the school is impacted when there are road closures and motorway traffic, and by industrial traffic which varies from day to day. This was very evident on a return visit to the school.
- Castle Hill Primary School – the crossing patrol will be kept as a planned pedestrian push-button crossing is no longer being installed.
- Cliffe Hill Community Primary School – where the head teacher and school community reported issues with reduced sightlines caused by poor parking, along with fluctuating traffic.
- Cornholme Junior, Infant and Nursery School – the crossing patrol will be kept as a planned pedestrian push-button crossing is no longer being installed.
- Holywell Green Primary School – where repeat visits showed that sightlines were restricted on one side of the road, as highlighted in consultation responses. The opening of a nearby pub and resulting parking also further exacerbated issues.
- Parkinson Lane Community Primary School – where planned infrastructure improvements are not yet in place and so a crossing patrol will be kept.
- St Malachy’s Catholic Primary School – where planned housing developments are likely to impact traffic volumes.
- Walsden St Peter’s CE (VC) Primary School – where issues with the siting of the current zebra crossing were highlighted in the consultation.
The re-modelled service will be implemented from September 2026 and there will be opportunities for employees at risk to move to sites that are currently vacant. Schools without a school crossing patrol will be invited to express an interest in a traded service from April 2026.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health, Cllr Tim Swift, said:
“We know that the way people travel to and from school plays a big part in contributing to safety, health and wellbeing. This review has been really important to us, and we’ve been so grateful for all the feedback that we’ve received as part of the consultation on original proposals.
“First-hand, local knowledge is vital in ensuring we have a full picture about what needs to be in place at each primary school. We’ve carefully listened to what people have told us, and as such have made some changes to our original plans.
“Our number one priority is always people’s safety, and as well as having the right measures in place, we also want to stress the importance of driver behaviour. We support the West Yorkshire Vision Zero road safety campaign and have been highlighting the issues caused be inconsiderate parking, especially close to schools, as part of our Pavements are for People campaign.
“Ultimately, we want to make it easier for people to travel to school in active ways, such as walking, wheeling and cycling, supporting children and families to feel safe, be healthy and enjoy the natural environment on their way to and from school.”