Maria Miller joined Hatch Warren Primary School’s pupils, parents and teachers on Friday 15 January to launch their new “Park and Stride” scheme.  

With more parents and carers having to use their car to drop off and collect children at school, concerns have increased about levels of traffic around schools and the safety of children at the start and end of the school day. 

With the help of Hampshire County Council, Hatch Warren Primary School has put a new scheme in place to relieve some of the pressure. Parents and carers can now park at the Portsmouth Arms pub and walk their children to school from there. Sainsbury has also helped by providing high visibility vests for the children.

Maria said: “This new “Park and Stride” scheme gives parents and children the opportunity to have a healthier and more sociable start to the day.  Not all parents will be able to do this every day, because of other demands on time, but it will go a long way towards helping to address the problem of traffic congestion and safety at the school gates.”