by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
The Worshipful The Mayor of Reigate and Banstead, Cllr. Richard Mantle, has presented eight schools from the area with a bronze medal from sustainable transport charity, Sustrans’ School Mark Award scheme, for their dedication to transforming the school run.
The schools are amongst the first in the country to receive a Sustrans School Mark and those have been awarded at a ceremony held at Epsom Downs Primary School. Representatives, including teachers and children from each school, have attend the ceremony to be congratulated for increasing cycling levels – an average of 30 per cent of children are now regularly cycling to Sustrans Bike It schools.
Gayle Rowson, the school’s Sustrans Bike It officer commented, “I’m delighted that each of these schools has achieved bronze status, they’ve done fantastically well; before Sustrans started working with them, many had zero levels of cycling.”
Councillor Julian Ellacott, Executive Member for Environment, added, “These schools are brilliant examples of how to maximise resources to achieve success. This award marks all the hard work put in to inspire children onto their bikes to travel in a way that benefits their health and the environment.”
Sustrans works with 18 schools in the Reigate and Banstead area. The project is supported by Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, Cycling England and the Bike Hub.
The eight schools that have been awarded the bronze School Mark Award are:
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Epsom Downs Primary School, Epsom
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Kingswood Primary School , Kingswood
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Warren Mead Community Junior School, Banstead
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St. Anne’s Catholic Primary School , Banstead
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Shawley Primary School, Epsom
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Yattendon School, Horley
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Wray Common Primary School, Reigate
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Furzefield Primary School, Merstham
© 2010
