Local primary school children take part in World Car Free Day on Brook Green
Primary school children in Brook Green enjoyed a car-free day of fresh air, fun and active learning in Brook Green.
Local pupils from Bute House Preparatory School for Girls, St Mary’s Primary School and the Larmenier & Sacred Heart Primary School found alternative ways to school as part of World Car Free Day on Friday 22 September.
Besides learning about alternative transport, the youngsters played in the street and used bike power to make smoothies and power a disco. While parents were encouraged to leave the car at home for the day.
“We are determined to become the greenest borough in the country and improving air quality and encouraging more sustainable forms of transport are key to this ambition,” said Cllr Wesley Harcourt, H&F Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Residents’ Services.
“We try and encourage all of our schools to adopt healthy travel plans, where pupils are encouraged to scoot, walk and cycle to school and home where possible.”
Global campaign to improve health
World Car Free Day is a global campaign to explore how cities and communities can interact in the absence of motor vehicles.
It promotes clean air and sustainable travel, encouraging walking and cycling to help tackle climate change.
The Brook Green event was a collaboration between H&F Council, Bute House School and local organisations Urbanwise London, Hammersmith Community Gardens Association, Eel Brook Tennis, Bike Works and Sustrans.
Moya O’Hara, of Urbanwise London said: “The children really enjoyed cycling about safely in their local street and having some active fun while learning, without having to worry about traffic.
“Even if it was just for one day.”
H&F Council is currently consulting on its plan to improve air quality in the borough which includes activities like these.
This consultation is now closed.
Across London, more than 100 schools got involved in the day. Parents and pupils were encouraged to find new ways to get to school to improve pupils’ health and boost local air quality.
In H&F, five local schools have already achieved gold level in Transport for London’s ‘STARS’ sustainable travel scheme.
