The school run could become a thing of the past in Borehamwood and Elstree after new safer walking routes were launched on Monday.

More than 100 children from primary schools in Borehamwood and Elstree gathered at Aberford Park on Monday morning, for the launch of Walk to School Week.

County engineers hope to take around 200 cars out of the school run, and have installed zebra and pelican crossings near primary schools in Borehamwood. Parents are being encouraged to start "walking buses", where they would take turns to supervise large groups of children as they walked to school.

Magedie Pretorius, from engineering firm Mouchel, was in charge of the project, and said he was confident the routes would reduce traffic congestion in the mornings.

"I am hoping that next year an extra ten per cent of children will be walking to school, out of a total of 2,000 children.

"Most of the schools in Borehamwood have children living within half a mile, and I am expecting half of those children to walk. It should make an impact on traffic in the mornings."

County Councillor Iris Tarry, in charge of environmental policies, said: "The county council worked hard throughout the summer to make Borehamwood one of the safest places for walking or cycling to school, the first time a whole town has been treated in this way."

October 1, 2002 17:00