First of all I'd like to say thank you to all the children and teachers of P5 for all the work that they've put into this project. Many thanks too for all the people that have given their time to help the children. Especial thanks go to Chris Hill who is the co-ordinator of Lothian Safe Routes.

The reason that a group of parents set up the Safe Routes to School was because we were very concerned at the traffic situation in the area around the school and the effect that this has on the children. (Many children are driven to and from school and lose out on the exercise that could be gained on a daily basis. Those children that do walk, whether accompanied by adults or not, have to encounter many dangers from traffic on the way. )

Our group recognises that neither the problem nor the solutions to it are going to be easy. We know that it won't happen overnight. However we would like to start to turn the vicious circle around.

Already we have had 12 bike racks installed at the school so that those children that do cycle have somewhere safe and dry to store their bikes. Three families that live out at the end of the catchment area, in or near McDowall Road, have joined together and formed a walking bus so that the adults take turns in walking the children into school.

The children in P5 have put together a survey that has gone out to all the families in the school. This will help us find out how children currently travel to school and how they want to travel. (If we find that 100% of children want to come by car then we really will have some traffic jams outside!!) The survey also asks what factors might enable more children to walk or cycle and where the traffic danger spots are. We haven't had time to analyse the results properly yet but there are two areas that are already showing to be of real concern.

One of these is West Savile Terrace where there is a high volume of traffic and no crossing for pedestrians at all. The other is Sciennes Road, immediately outside the school. I'm sure that this last one is of no surprise to anyone. Indeed it has already been raised several times at school board meetings. One solution that has been put forward for this is to close off the road, except for cyclists and pedestrians and to extend the playground into some of the space. Both the Safe Routes group and the School Board would like to see this happen.

Obviously these are big issues and they will have an effect on many other people in the community. It is something that we would like to pursue in consultation with local residents, the hospital next door, local businesses and others. We are looking to local councillors and the City Development department for guidance on this.

We will be analysing the survey forms more closely and looking at all the danger points that have been highlighted and all the suggestions that have been made. Then we shall produce a detailed report, which will be made public. (I believe that the children have already made a wish list from the council to get the ball rolling).

If you haven't returned a survey form yet then there is still time. There should be some spare ones at the back. Even if your situation means that you have no alternative to the car, please still return a form. We also welcome any feedback and ideas that you have. The Safe Routes to School group can be contacted through the school office or there are some sheets at the back that have some contact phone numbers.

If we succeed in making the local area safer for children and their parents to walk and cycle to school, then we will be making it safer for everyone to walk and cycle all of the time and not just at school rush hours.