A SCHEME to improve road safety by introducing part-time 20mph speed limits around schools is set to be rolled out to a further six sites.

Durham County Council’s cabinet is being recommended to agree to use more than £100,000 in expanding the Slow to 20 for Safer Streets initiative.

The meeting on Wednesday, May 15, will hear that £106,000 is proposed to be used on implementing the part-time 20mph limits at the next six sites on the prioritisation list.

The sites include Shotton Primary School and St Helen Auckland Community Primary School.

The meeting will hear that the scheme has also involved education and awareness raising to encourage motorists to reduce their speed and children to walk and cycle to school.

This has involved bringing in artists to work with schoolchildren on designing 20mph signs and the creation of junior road safety officers to spread messages to fellow pupils.

Cllr Brian Stephens, the council’s cabinet member for neighbourhoods and local partnerships, said: “This project has been an overwhelming success to date, helping keep our children safe by slowing down traffic around 78 schools.

“We are really pleased with the way our partners have embraced Slow to 20 - with a further 31 sites funded by local councillors, AAPs, town and parish councils and schools, and another 15 on the way.

“We’re also happy to be in a position to introduce part time limits at a further six sites and look forward to working with schools."