A county first to improve safety on a school road in Farnham has been hailed as a success with traffic falling by 62 per cent at peak times.

Getting to Heath End School is now a safer and quieter affair for some students and residents following the introduction of Surrey’s first School Street scheme.

It’s been nearly a year since the scheme was rolled out with vehicular restrictions on Bullers Road on drop-off and pick-up times on school days.

And Surrey County Council believe the figures speak for themselves with a big drop in vehicle numbers and close to 100 fines being issued since its roll out.

In the week before the scheme went live some 659 vehicles turned out of Bullers Road during peak times (8am to 9.15am and 2pm to 3.30pm).

That figure reduced by 61 per cent to 255 during a term-time week, while the respective figures for traffic turning into Bullers Road were 568 to 215, a drop of 62 per cent.

Some 278 warning notices and 145 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) have since been issued to drivers of non-exempt vehicles since the scheme went live, with 53 being cancelled for various reasons as some teachers were incorrectly penalised.

“Our research has shown there has been a substantial reduction in the number of vehicles travelling on the road during school journey times,” said Matt Furniss, SCC Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth in thanking parents for adapting to the changes.

“Our observations have also shown a vast improvement in the safety of children who are walking and cycling to the school along Bullers Road, which was the aim of this project.”

Bullers Road residents, blue badge holders, emergency vehicles, school transport lorries, carers and health workers are exempt from the restrictions.