Children, parents and carers travelling to Foundry Lane Primary School will soon benefit from safer crossings, improved pavements and a greener street environment as Southampton City Council begins work on a series of improvements designed to make everyday journeys easier and more enjoyable.

Coming forward as part of the Safer Routes to School programme, construction will start on 23 July, with work taking place over the summer holidays and into September. The improvements have been designed in partnership with Foundry Lane Primary and the local community to make it safer, easier and more attractive for children and families to walk, wheel and cycle to school, while creating a more welcoming environment for everyone who uses the area.

The scheme has been developed over the past 3 years and following consultation earlier this year,  a range of measures to improve road safety, accessibility and the quality of the local street environment will be built.

Key improvements include:

• A new zebra crossing on Foundry Lane, north of English Road, providing a safer and more accessible crossing point for people walking, wheeling and using mobility aids.
• Wider and resurfaced pavements between English Road and the school gates, giving people more space at busy school times.
• School Street enhancements on English Road, including new signage, to support compliance and improve road safety.
• A raised table at the English Road and Imperial Avenue junction to make crossing easier and encourage lower vehicle speeds.
• New planting on Foundry Lane to add greenery, support biodiversity and enhance the local environment.
• Additional parking restrictions to improve visibility and keep key walking routes clear.
• Traffic-calming measures, including two speed humps, to help reduce vehicle speeds on the approach to the new crossing.

Work has been scheduled to take place during the school summer holidays where possible to minimise disruption. The scheme has been grouped into four parts, with part one taking place at the junction of Foundry Lane and English Road from 23 July to 28 August. During this part, the road will be closed.

Part two will take place at the junction of Imperial Road and English Avenue from 17 to 28 August, with temporary traffic signals in place to manage traffic. Part 3 will also take place at this junction from 1 to 25 September and the junction will be closed to traffic.

The last part will return to the junction of Foundry Lane and English Road from 28 September to 3 October, with overnight road closures on these days.

Councillor Jacqui Rayment, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “Every child should feel safe travelling to school, whether they’re walking, wheeling, cycling or scooting with friends and family.

“We know from our work with local people that they want safer, more welcoming streets around Foundry Lane Primary School, especially at the busy start and end of the school day. This scheme reflects the feedback we’ve received and will make it easier for children and families to walk, wheel and cycle to school.

“By improving crossings and pavements, slowing traffic and introducing more greenery, we’re creating a healthier street environment that puts people first. These changes will help children travel more safely and independently while making the area more pleasant for residents and the wider community.”

The Safer Routes to School programme supports our goals of a safer, greener and healthier Southampton by making places where people of all ages and abilities can move around safely, comfortably and confidently while enjoying cleaner, greener and more attractive neighbourhoods.