Walk to School Week Launched by Mayor

11.01.38pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 23rd May 2007

Children and parents at Great Linford Combined School are abandoning the car as part of Walk to School Week (21-25 May).

More than 10,000 children from 45 schools in Milton Keynes are taking part in the national initiative to cut the number of cars on the "school run" and improve children's fitness and health.

To mark the start, Milton Keynes mayor, councillor Mike Barry was at Great Linford Combined School on Monday to launch the campaign locally.

During the week children are encouraged to walk to school and for each day they do so they will be given a raffle ticket to have the chance of winning free entry to the newly-opened Eco Park at Gulliver's Land.

Jo Miller, school travel plan adviser for Milton Keynes Council, said: "Parents are often surprised that walking to school may only take a few minutes longer than driving.

"It's much less stressful than loading the car, strapping the kids in, then there's the hassle of finding a space and cursing other drivers. Walk to School Week is the perfect time to give the school walk a try."

The school walk also gives parents the ideal opportunity to teach their primary school-aged children about road safety, how to navigate the streets, and how to judge risks and find a safer route to school.

David Beattie, whose six-year-old daughter attends a school in Milton Keynes, said: "I really value taking the time to walk my daughter to and from school. It gives us a chance to chat. In the summer, she loves riding her bike with her friends."

Research has shown that the levels of pollutants inside a car are at least 3 times worse than on the pavement at the side of the street. The pollutants from car exhausts include:

• Carbon monoxide - a poisonous odourless gas

• Carbon dioxide - a major cause of global warming

• Benzene - which can cause cancer

• Particulate matter - minute specks of soot (a tenth of the width of a human hair) which can enter the lungs and make breathing harder.

Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Williams, cabinet member responsible for transport, said: "It's really good to see the support we get from children and parents during Walk To School Week, and for many this event really is the kick start they need to continue walking throughout the Summer."

For more information on walking to school, contact Jo Miller on 01908 254221 or road.safety@milton-keynes.gov.uk.