November 19, 2013 3.48 pm This story is over 124 months old

Lincoln primary school improves cycle storage

Better facilities: A Lincoln school has used Access LN6 funds to improve cycle facilities for pupils, encouraging healthier ways to get to school.
Sustrans’ Vincent Gibson, student Eve Beer (11), Headteacher Mr Jon Richardson, former Lincoln City captain Dean Walling, student Lewis Morley (10) and Victoria Wade from the Access LN6 team. Photo: Lincolnshire County Council

A primary school in the south of Lincoln has used Access LN6 funds to improve cycle facilities, encouraging more children to cycle.

South Hykeham Community Primary School installed secure weatherproof cycle storage and additional scooter storage thanks to a £11,500 grant from Lincolnshire County Council.

It also redesigned the car park so that the racks are at the front of the school, so access is safer for children.

Mr Jon Richardson, Headmaster at South Hykeham Community Primary School, said: “We want to promote sustainable travel to school wherever possible, and parents and children need to be assured that their bikes will be kept safe and secure.

“Hopefully the new cycle and scooter storage will encourage more children and parents to use bikes and scooters as a means of transport to travel to the school.

“The funding from Access LN6 was essential – if we didn’t have the funding, we couldn’t have made the improvements.”

Sustrans’ Vincent Gibson, student Eve Beer (11), Headteacher Mr Jon Richardson, former Lincoln City captain Dean Walling, student Lewis Morley (10) and Victoria Wade from the Access LN6 team. Photo: Lincolnshire County Council

Sustrans’ Vincent Gibson, student Eve Beer (11), Headteacher Mr Jon Richardson, former Lincoln City captain Dean Walling, student Lewis Morley (10) and Victoria Wade from the Access LN6 team. Photo: Lincolnshire County Council

Dean Walling, an ex-professional footballer and captain, attended the official launch at the primary school on November 19.

He said: “I’ve worked with a lot of the children at South Hykeham Primary School and was honoured to open the new cycle and scooter storage.

“As an ex-professional footballer, healthy eating and fitness is very important to me, and I want to promote this to the children.

“Walking, scooting and cycling to school is an important part of keeping healthy – anything we can do to educate our children and help reduce the amount of traffic on the roads is paramount.”

During the launch event, children had an assembly about winter safety and bike maintenance delivered by Sustrans and the Access LN6 team.

The primary School is one of eight schools in the LN6 area to receive collectively £37,000 funding from the Access LN6 programme for better bike facilities.

The other schools receiving the funding are Ling Moor Academy, Manor Leas Infant School, Priory Witham Academy, Sir Robert Pattinson Academy, St Hugh’s Catholic Primary School, St. Michaels Church of England Primary School and Swinderby All Saints Church of England Primary School.

Councillor Richard Davies, Executive Councillor for Highways and Transportation at Lincolnshire County Council, said:

“Ensuring schools have suitable cycle storage, scooter pods and parent waiting shelters is essential when promoting sustainable travel to school.

“Through Access LN6 we want to promote the benefits of active travel, and encourage parents and children to think about how they travel to school.”