Local families are being encouraged by Cheshire West and Chester Council to help create a 'car-free zone' around schools.

The Council is urging parents and children to walk, cycle or 'scoot' to school where possible, as it aims not only to promote an active lifestyle amongst young people, but also to reduce air pollution and congestion.

Cllr Karen Shore, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Strategic Transport said: "We know that a lot more people have been out walking and cycling as part of their daily exercise during lockdown.

"As we return to school, let's all play our part to make sure that local children get to school safely and continue to improve air quality and reduce congestion in our communities. Active travel provides a range of physical and mental health benefits for our children and helps set them up for a great day of learning in the classroom."

If travelling to school by foot is infeasible, it has been suggested that parents might park a few minutes away and walk the final section, in order to help create a clean air zone for arriving children. Cars waiting around the school should also switch their engines off to reduce emissions.

Concerns over air pollution levels are especially relevant to Frodsham, where a 2018 study found that nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels in the air at the Fluin Lane junction regularly exceeded the safe limit of 40 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³).

Although the air quality on this stretch of road has improved in the last two years, with the nitrogen dioxide concentration averaging at 36.9 µg/m³, car exhaust emissions can still reach dangerous levels at busy times of day.