By Andrew Argo

COUNCILS IN Tayside and Fife are at the forefront of efforts to promote safe and environmentally-friendly ways for pupils to get to and from school.

They already have schemes in place to encourage pupils to walk, cycle or if necessary take the bus to school for the benefit of the health of themselves and their communities.

Next week the environmentally friendly public transport group Sustrans will launch a campaign for every school in the United Kingdom to have a safe route for pupils.

Coinciding with the start of the school session in England and Wales, the move is being undertaken to help the environment, reduce traffic congestion and promote better health.

The problem has already been identified by education authorities in Scotland, and the Scottish Executive is giving them money for school travel co-ordinators.

Their job is to examine ways to promote safe, efficient and environmentally-friendly ways of getting to and from school.

Dundee City Council has already decided to appoint a co-ordinator who will work in conjunction with education, leisure and arts and planning and transportation departments to produce initiative for safe and healthy travel to school.

Education convener Fraser Macpherson said there were safety as well as health and environmental messages which needed to get through to pupils and their families.

Perth and Kinross Council is also carrying out a safe routes to schools’ initiative.

Perth High School and Oakbank Primary have piloted a scheme, and the venture will be extended to schools in Coupar Angus, Dunkeld, Comrie, Breadalbane and Auchterarder, and later to elsewhere in Perth, Invergowrie and Fossoway.

Fife Council will receive funding to improve the road safety skills of five and six-year-olds, the Scottish Executive announced yesterday, writes Ben Supple.

Transport Minister Nicol Stephen revealed that money for child pedestrian training schemes will be made available over the next three years.

A local co-ordinator will be appointed to work alongside trained volunteers, the local authority and road safety units.

Programmes are to be set up in 11 primary schools in the region.

Anyone interested in volunteering to help deliver the training should contact the head teacher at any of the following schools: Aberhill, Benarty, Blacklaw, Collydean, Fair Isle, Kennoway, Kirkcaldy North, Methilhill, Pathhead, Valley and Warout.