2024-25 Completed projects

Children at West Barns Primary School often travel to school using a short-cut up a long flight of steps. This is both on the route from the ‘Park and Stride’ car park, and also from new housing area in the opposite direction. The Parent Council had highlighted that it was difficult to take bikes up the steps to the school. They also noted that vehicles accessing the parking area to the east of the steps were manoeuvring in the space where people wanted to cross the road.

Colleagues in our Housing Team were simultaneously working to improve the surface of the steps and transform the area at the top from an unattractive slabbed area to grass with paths.

Together we:

1. Installed a series of wheeling ramps on the steps to make it easier to take up bikes
2. Created a build-out at the bottom of the steps forming a protected area in which to congregate and give better opportunities for crossing the road. It also discourages cars from stopping and manoeuvring at the crossing point
3. Installed cycle parking on the build-out for those who prefer to leave their bikes and walk up to school
4. Re-surfaced the area at the top of the steps with grass, planters and attractive paths

Wheeling bike down steps on new ramp

Newly surfaced steps with wheeling ramp

Bikes parked at bottom of steps at school pick-up time