A Ruddington school has made a trial ‘Walking Bus’ initiative permanent to help reduce air pollution in the village and encourage local children to exercise more.

Rushcliffe Borough Council is working with NHS Rushcliffe Clinical Commissioning Group and local community group Ruddington Mums on the programme that could now be replicated in other areas of Rushcliffe. Children from St Peter’s Junior School took part in their first ‘Walking Bus’ in June and now stroll to their school chaperoned by parents along a set route on a set timetable every school day.

The Council’s Deputy Leader Cllr Debbie Mason said: “This is a wonderful volunteer led initiative and the responsible parents and guardians and their children must be praised for how they have embraced a more sustainable journey to school. “The scheme helps to alleviate traffic pollution and congestion issues in the village and it also gives the children a chance to exercise in a controlled and supervised environment. “We would encourage all schools in Rushcliffe to consider a method of active travel to school, such as walking or cycling so they too can reap the health and environmental benefits.”

Parent Laura Ratcliffe has liaised with local schools and volunteers to organise the initiative in Ruddington for her two young daughters.
She said: “Our walking bus is an important part of many families’ mornings, providing children with a safe, healthy and reliable journey to school every morning.

“As we gain more volunteers we hope to explore new opportunities for our ‘Walking Bus’ to get even more children walking to school in Ruddington.”
Parents or guardians of children at St Peter’s Junior School in Ruddington can take part by emailing ruddingtonwalkingbus@gmail.com
Those interested in setting up a ‘Walking Bus’ in their town or village can email the authority’s Health Development Officer Alex Julian ajulian@rushcliffe.gov.uk.